Disgruntled workers at ten Essex care homes are preparing to strike after voting unanimously in favour of industrial action in a protracted row over pay and conditions.

Staff in Excelcare homes, including Golden-ley in Benfleet and Sweyne Court in Rayleigh, strongly opposed new contracts imposed on them following the transfer of the homes to the company from Essex County Council in March 2005.

Despite months of negotiations between the GMB union and Excelcare, staff signalled their readiness to strike over the contracts, which slash their salaries, sick pay and holiday allowance.

Workers made their feelings clear during a consultative ballot on Friday. Action could take the form of a walkout.

Michael Ainsley, regional spokesman for the GMB union said: "The results of the consultative ballot show an overwhelming majority of workers in the care homes are in favour of industrial action.

"Our next move is to get as many staff together as possible to see what they want to do because industrial action is not something carers are naturally minded to do.

"But I will be going round to the various homes personally to see what action they might want to take."

Reacting to the news, Excelcare spokesman Bill Scott said: "At this time there has been no notification from the GMB to any care home company of any ballot calling for industrial action."

Essex County Council declined to comment.