THREE of the region's universities could grind to a halt next month if academics vote in favour of strike action.

Members of lecturers' union the Association of University Teachers (AUT) are being balloted for strike action over a proposed pay and modernisation package.

The AUT has a large concentration of members at Newcastle, York and Durham universities, meaning the three institutions could grind to a standstill during strike action.

Although it has fewer members at Teesside, Sunderland and Northumbria universities, they could also be affected by any strike.

Academics and senior support staff are voting by postal ballot from today and the result will be known by mid-February.

The industrial action, which would start in February or March, will be enacted nationwide by the 47,000 lecturers, researchers and support staff who belong to the AUT, if a majority vote is secured.

North-East spokesman Tony Axon said: "If members vote for a strike, there would be a significant impact in Newcastle and Durham in particular."

The ballot has also received the backing of the National Union of Students (NUS).

The AUT is campaigning for lecturers' starting salaries to be raised from the current £23,000 to more than £32,000. The union claims the proposals being made by employers would lead to massive reductions in long-term earnings for many staff, under-regulated localised pay and the possibility of widespread downgrading for teaching-only and senior support staff.