EAST Lancashire rail commuters face another wave of disruption after train depot shift managers voted for possible strike action.

Key members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association have voted in favour of industrial action including striking in May.

Following the unanimous vote of all 17 specialist shift managers announced this afternoon, TSSA officials will go back to speak to Northern management to try and settle the dispute over excessive workload and unpaid additional tasks.

If not, the union will take action in May in the run up to the introduction of new timetables on Northern routes including the East Lancashire Line and the Clitheroe to Manchester service.

Northern has a major train depot at Brunswick Street in Blackburn and an office in the town's One Cathedral Square office block.,

In February the company settled a two-year dispute about driver-only trains with another rail union the RMT which led to 47 strike days.

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: “This is a really strong signal from our members who have had enough."

A Northern spokesman said: “We are committed to reaching an amicable solution."