STRONG backing for strike action has emerged from a ballot of North-East journalists after they rejected a pay offer.

The National Union of Journalists has balloted staff at Newcastle Chronicle and Journal (NCJ) - whose newspapers include The Journal, Evening Chronicle, Sunday Sun and Gateshead Post - after turning down a two per cent pay rise.

The journalists want a four per cent increase.

Almost nine out ten of the 76 who cast a vote opted for a strike. About 110 NUJ members were entitled to vote, out of an editorial workforce of about 176.

The union says 20 journalists' jobs have been cut at NCJ's Newcastle base in less than a year, out of more than 1,100 axed nationwide by the parent company.

A union spokesman said: "NUJ Members at Newcastle Chronicle and Journal believe industrial action is not in the interests of the readers or advertisers, and hope that, in the light of this vote, the company will see sense and reach an agreement before it is too late."

But David Roland, NCJ's human resources director, countered the introduction of a formal pay structure for journalists had seen an extra £140,000 invested in editorial salaries and pointed out that trainee journalists had been offered a 10.7 per cent increase.

"Everyone knows that the media industry has had a challenging time over the past 18 months. The pay award of two per cent reflects this," he said