Southern Rail train drivers have voted to go on strike in a row over pay.

Train union ASLEF balloted its members last week.

The union said the ballot was in response to Southern’s failure to provide an improved pay offer to its driver members.

The Argus understands the current offer on the table from Southern is a 2.65% pay increase.

However drivers are upset that their colleagues working for Southeastern have “been awarded a larger figure of 4.5%".

ASLEF announced today that its drivers, who work on Southern Rail and Gatwick Express services, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

A statement from the union said: "ASLEF members on Southern have voted overwhelmingly for strike action after rejecting a pay offer from the company.

"In a ballot conducted by Electoral Reform Services members were asked two questions concerning the company's failure to make a satisfactory pay offer.

"Are you prepared to take part in a strike? "Yes 762 [91.4%] "No 72 [8.6%]

"Are you prepared to take part in industrial action short of a strike? Yes 793 [95.3%] "No 39 [4.7%] "Turnout was 85.3%

"The union is meeting management tomorrow [Thursday] in the light of this ballot result."

Any strike action is expected to severely disrupt services across Sussex, including in Brighton and Hove.

The news comes as early-morning Brighton commuters were dealt further misery this morning (Wednesday) after a broken rail at Haywards Heath caused a wave of cancellations and delays.

Among the axed services was the 7.29am Brighton to London Victoria, which failed to arrive on time throughout 2014.

Network Rail, the firm responsible for the UK’s rail infrastructure, apologised for the delays and said trains were travelling through Haywards Heath at just 20mph.