Schools across the county could close for the second time this year if teachers vote to strike again.

Members of the NUT (National Union of Teachers) will be voting over the next three weeks.

If it goes ahead, the strike is likely to take place in mid-November. Oxfordshire NUT wants its 2,600 members to vote yes to industrial action.

County union president Chris Blakey said: "The members we have already spoken to still feel very strongly about taking a stance on this.

"We do not want to have to take a pay cut, particularly in light of the new inflation figures.

"If inflation is up at five per cent-plus and we are being offered only a 2.45 per cent pay rise, that is quite a sizeable pay cut. The teachers we have already consulted are planning on voting in favour of industrial action."

Mr Blakey said, nationally, the NUT would like to have as many teachers go on strike next month as it did in April to show the strength of feeling among staff.

He estimates about 1,800 teachers went on strike in Oxfordshire earlier in the year, which was the first national teachers' strike for more than 20 years.

About 600 teachers held a rally at Oxford Town Hall on the day of the strike and marched through the city centre chanting and waving banners.

The strike shut 32 schools in Oxfordshire and part- ially closed another 26, with about 20,000 children having to stay at home for the day.

Parents had mixed views about a second strike.

Louise McNamara, of Greater Leys, has two children — 15-year-old Darren, a pupil at the Oxford Acad- emy, and Shannon, seven, who is at Windale Primary School. She said: "It really is an inconvenience for parents, especially if both parents work and it means other arrangements have to be made for childcare.

"I find it hard to sympathise with the teachers.

"They knew when they went into the job that it wasn't one of the best paid jobs around."

Kathleen Deeney, a mum-of-three from Barton, said: "I can see the teachers' argument and can understand why they want to take action like this as they should be paid fairly, but they really don't think about the impact it has on parents.

"It will also mean lots of children lose another day's schooling, which goes against what teachers want for their pupils."

The ballot is due to close in early November when a decision will be taken whether to go ahead with the strike.