Railway signal workers have voted to go on strike in a bitter row over jobs and safety, it was announced yesterday.

There are fears the first national rail strike in more than a decade could disrupt travel plans in the coming weeks, including over Easter.

Rail operators who run services in Leicestershire said they were working with Network Rail on contingency plans to minimise disruption.

The proposed strikes are over Network Rail plans to axe jobs and increase the amount of maintenance work carried out at weekends.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced yesterday that 54% of its members backed strike action, with 77% supporting industrial action short of a strike. Turnout in the ballot was 71%.

Maintenance workers belonging to the union and members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association have already voted in favour of industrial action, threatening the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest on the railways for more than 10 years.

Union chiefs are expected to announce dates for industrial action next Thursday, unless progress has been made in negotiations with Network Rail.

East Midlands Trains said it anticipated disruption caused to London services by industrial action would be "minimal".

A spokeswoman said: "The message to passengers is to keep booking as normal."

CrossCountry Trains said it would have a clearer idea of what, if any, disruption would be caused when details of the strikes was finalised.

Network Rail has accused the RMT of trying to "hold the country to ransom".