Up to 700 Co-operative Food drivers are set to hold a 48-hour strike in response to the retailer's plan to transfer 87 drivers to Eddie Stobart Logistics.

A ballot earlier this month saw 77% vote in favour of strike action.

The 48 hour strike is due to begin at 00.01 on 21 March and will be accompanied by an ongoing work to rule by drivers.

Unite said that a number of the 87 drivers at the centre of the dispute, who are all based at Co-op's Coventry depot, were considering taking a severance package offered [on offer if they don't strike] to them by Co-operative management.

Unite national officer for retail distribution Adrian Jones said the union’s affected members were “caught between a rock and a hard place”.

A spokesman for the Co-op said it was in talks with Unite to try and resolve the matter.