Rail passengers in Sussex face severe disruption after two days of strike action were announced by unions.

Workers have voted overwhelmingly to strike as part of a dispute with South West Trains about working conditions.

They are in dispute over entitlements to holiday and sick leave and complaints about dismissals. There have also been complaints about wearing name badges and bright red waistcoats which they say are uncomfortable.

Several hundred members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union were balloted this week and favoured strike action.

The one-day strikes will be held on May 2 and 3 and will affect the operator's six daily services to Brighton, which stop at Chichester, Barnham, Worthing, Shoreham and Hove.

The Reading to Brighton routes go via Basingstoke and are popular with commuters and sightseers.

The union said there were numerous industrial relations problems including disputes about conditions.

Guards are objecting to wearing name badges because they believe they make them more of a target for abuse from angry passengers when trains are late.

A spokesman for South West Trains said: "Obviously we are bitterly disappointed.

"This is unnecessary, particularly in view of the fact that discussions are still ongoing about the issues they have raised.

"Most of the issues have little or no substance. However, yet again the RMT are showing a complete lack of concern for the travelling public.

"These issues can be resolved through discussion. We would urge the RMT to think of our passengers and to come back to the table."

But the RMT says it has come to end of the line amid accusations the train company is not taking their complaints seriously.

A spokesman for the RMT said today: "The management of South West Trains have not been abiding by procedures in relation to staff rostas.

"There has been a complete breakdown in industrial relations. We voted overwhelmingly to strike. We are quite willing to sit round the table with them as long as they start talking sense."

South West Trains, which serves southern and south west England, had its franchise renewed for 20 years last month.