Network Rail engineers could strike over a pay row leading to more disruption next month. 

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said around 250 of its members will vote on strike action in the coming weeks. 

Industrial action - over out-of-hours standby payments - could lead to disruption at the end of August.

August is already expected to be a frustrating month for commuters and rail users with a number of key routes being closed for the first two weeks. 

Lines from Oxford to Didcot Parkway, Banbury and Hanborough will all be closed and services between Banbury and Bicester North will also be affected. 

The union's general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: "Our members do a very important job, often attending incidents in the middle of the night, but they do not receive proper reward for their professionalism.

"Their importance to keeping the network running 24/7 is huge and we want some recognition for that from management."

He added: "We hope that last-ditch talks this week may still resolve the issue, but, if they don't, a dispute looks inevitable with all the disruption that will follow."