'Overworked' North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) workers are to vote on whether to strike over salaries.

It comes after a consultative ballot on industrial action received almost unanimous support from members of GMB at the service.

NWAS headquarters are in Bolton.

According to the union, this means an actual ballot on industrial action is to come with a date to be confirmed in the coming days.

Over the summer, the Conservative Government announced a four per cent pay rise for ambulance workers, including at NWAS.

But in light of the cost of living crisis, GMB said it amounts to pay cut in real terms for a service 'overworked' and 'understaffed'.

Mike Buoey, an organiser for the union, said: "Ambulance workers are on the frontline saving lives. They shouldn’t have to come home to worries about making ends meet. 

"The cost of living is rising – and even more steeply due to the Conservative Government’s economic mismanagement. 

"Our ambulance service is overworked and understaffed. Their low pay barely covers the essentials. It just isn’t good enough."

GMB also announced ballots amongst its members at services in the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East and Yorkshire.

But the Department for Health and Social Care defended the four per cent pay rise and warned the services of 'the potential impact on patients'.

A spokesperson for the department, headed up by Secretary of State Therese Coffey since the MP's appointment by Prime Minister Liz Truss last month, said: "We value the hard work of NHS staff and are working hard to support them – including by giving over 1 million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

"Industrial action is a matter for unions, and we urge them to carefully consider the potential impacts on patients."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.