Union leaders in Oxfordshire are preparing to table a five per cent pay demand - and will use the recent flooding crisis as a bargaining tool.

According to senior union sources, the forthcoming pay demand - which will be made on behalf of the thousands of local government employees across the county - will make a huge play on the many staff who went "beyond the call of duty" in dealing with the recent flooding in Oxford, Witney and Abingdon.

As reported, many frontline council staff worked around-the-clock to ensure those affected were given help and those evacuated from their homes were given shelter.

And many more workers were involved in the massive clear-up operation. But when bosses meet top brass at County Hall, reference will be made to the 10 per cent pay award senior staff were awarded earlier this year.

In reality, though, many of the 18,000 rank-and-file county council employees are in line for a pay increase of about 2.5 per cent.

Oxfordshire Unison branch chairman Mark Fysh said: "I would like to add my personal thanks to the people of Whitecross, who helped me with sandbags as the floodwaters filled my garage and garden and shot under my bungalow.

"I want to sing the praises of all local government and public sector workers who have worked so hard at all levels to help save all our homes, our health and our lives across Oxfordshire.

"Many staff worked hard for hours above and beyond the call of duty because they believe in serving and protecting the public.

"The next time public sector workers ask for a decent pay rise of, say five per cent, I ask you to remember this time - and remember us. Because we are worth it."

In March, County Hall's most senior employees were awarded bumper 10 per cent pay rises.

The increases came at a time when 500 county council care assistants were battling against wage cuts, meant chief executive Joanna Simons was now earning £173,766.

County councillor Charles Shouler, cabinet member for finance, said: "We're in the hands of the national negotiators."