Security guards are set to stage a strike at Heathrow Airport over Easter which could cause travellers "severe delays".

Unite said more than 1,400 of its members employed by Heathrow Airports Ltd (HAL) will take 10 days of strike action from Friday, March 31 after voting in favour of walkouts.

On the union's website, it stated: "Flights using Heathrow Airport will experience severe delays and disruption this Easter as workers take extensive strike action in a dispute over pay."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at Heathrow Airport are on poverty wages while the chief executive and senior managers enjoy huge salaries. It is the airport’s workers who are fundamental to its success and they deserve a fair pay increase.

The Northern Echo: The strikes will start on Friday, March 31The strikes will start on Friday, March 31 (Image: PA)

“Our members are simply unable to make ends meet due to the low wages paid by Heathrow. They are being forced to take strike action due to need not greed.

“Unite has a laser-like focus on prioritising the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and HAL needs to be in no doubt that the workers at the airport will receive the union’s unstinting support.”

How did Heathrow respond to this?

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Passengers can be reassured that we have contingency plans which will keep the airport open and operational despite unnecessary threats of strike action by Unite.

“We have proposed an inflation-beating 10% increase in pay which the public will recognise is fair and a majority of our colleagues have told Unite is not worth striking over. We urge Unite to come back to the table to discuss implementing it.

“Threatening to ruin people’s hard-earned holidays with strike action will not improve the deal. We want to do the right thing by our people and our passengers, each day only delays this pay rise reaching Unite members’ pockets.”