Plymouth dockyard staff in pay ballot

Babcock Marine employs about 4,000 people at Devonport

Workers at a Plymouth dockyard are to be balloted over a pay offer by its owner, defence company Babcock Marine.

The firm is offering one-off payments to Devonport staff of £1,000 this year and £900 next year in an attempt to mitigate a two-year pay freeze.

The 4,000 workers at the site - one of the biggest employers in the South West - are being balloted by the joint unions, including Unite and the GMB.

The result of the ballot is expected on Thursday.