About 100 workers at luxury car maker Aston Martin's factory in Bloxham have been balloted on strike action in a dispute over working practices.

Members of the Transport and General Workers' Union at the Ford-owned firm voted on July 4 on whether to stage a series of walkouts over the next few weeks. Half of the 200-strong workforce at the Oxfordshire plant, which produces the DB7 model, are members of the TGWU. The company employs a further 800 in Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire and Gaydon in Warwickshire.

Aston Martin wants to introduce flexible working arrangements instead of strict traditional shift patterns.

TGWU official John Street said: "They make top class luxury cars, but it will take nearly ten years to earn enough for one of the workers to buy one.

"The real issue is the demand for total flexible working. Insisting that people work eight hours on a Saturday or extra hours during the week at busy periods has caused real feelings of anger when they earn less and work more than other workers in companies like Jaguar and Land Rover."

Aston Martin management declined to comment.