Council waste and street cleaning staff in East Ayrshire have voted for strike action in a row over pay which could see "rubbish piling up in the streets", union leaders have warned.

And cleansing staff across the rest of Ayrshire could join them within weeks.

Leaders of the Unison trade union said waste, recycling and street cleaning workers in 14 council areas across the country, including East Ayrshire, had backed industrial action in a ballot.

Members of two other unions have already backed industrial action, with GMB members voting in favour in East Ayrshire and those in Unite set to walk out in all three Ayrshire council areas.

The votes are the result of a dispute over pay with the local government body Cosla.

Cosla leaders had proposed an 18-month deal which would give council staff a 2.2 per cent uplift from April this year, with a further two per cent hike in October.

In the wake of the ballot, Unison called on Cosla to get back round the table.

David O'Connor, head of local government at Unison Scotland, said: "Council workers deserve a wage that reflects their essential roles.

"With over 95 per cent of those voting saying they are ready to take industrial action, it demonstrates how they feel, not only about the pay offer, but how undervalued they are feeling generally."

With the union balloting staff in schools next week, Mr O'Connor continued: "If they vote to strike, then schools will also be closing in September.

"Cosla and the Scottish Government have to understand the anger amongst local government workers. They feel let down. The only way they can get government to listen is to threaten strike action."

Earlier this month, leaders of the Unite union announced members at 16 of Scotland's 32 councils had backed strike action - with the GMB confirming its members in 13 local authority areas had voted in favour of action. 

A spokesperson for Cosla, which represents all 32 of Scotland's councils, said: "Cosla has made a strong pay offer for Scotland's local government workforce.

"This offer is at the limit of affordability within the very constrained financial circumstances facing councils.

"We are disappointed that strike action is being considered in some areas, and are concerned about the detrimental impact this disruption would have on our people and communities.

"We remain committed to reaching a resolution as quickly as possible."