A LEADING regional airport faces a crippling strike over Christmas in a dispute about pensions, union leaders warned yesterday.

Amicus announced it was balloting its members at Birmingham Airport for industrial action to defend their final salary pension scheme.

Union officials said workers would vote as part of a campaign against the closure of the final salary pension scheme to new members.

Regional officer Peter Coulson said: "Birmingham Airport faces shutdown over Christmas unless the company stops playing Scrooge with hundreds of staff who will face many uncertain Christmases in retirement."