Business owners have been advised that thousands of Royal Mail managers are to balloted over possible strike action in a dispute over job cuts.

About 8,500 managers at Royal Mail head offices across the UK, and those at subsidiary businesses Parcelforce and the Post Office are due to vote.

The union Unite said the ballot had been organised in protest at what it said were plans to cut 1,500 manager positions on a compulsory basis

The government announced last month that it will move ahead with plans to privatise the Royal Mail, saying it needed both private finance and expertise.