A union has asked Brighton and Hove's binmen to consider strike action after talks with management failed.

The GMB, which represents workers at the city's Hollingbury depot, has issued a formal notice to Brighton and Hove City Council stating it is balloting members for industrial action.

Jenny Rowlands, the council's environment director, was told ballot papers were being sent to members' homes by May 21.

A notice of the ballot was issued to staff at the depot on Wednesday.

It said: "There has been a series of talks aimed at trying to resolve the issues within the depot.

"At this moment in time the talks have not been concluded successfully.

"If this remains the situation by midday today, the GMB will be appointing an independent scrutineer to conduct a ballot for industrial action as directed by the workforce."

The council, which operates the Cityclean service, confirmed it had been informed of the union's plans to go ahead with the ballot.

The refuse service has been blighted by industrial unrest for more than five years.

Private contractor Sita handed back the contract in 2001.

The council stepped in to run it in the hope of resolving the poor relations between management and staff.

But three years on, the service still suffers from bouts of unrest and disputes.

The council suspended 11 dustmen two weeks ago, accusing them of taking unofficial industrial action in the form of a go-slow, which led to rubbish piling up on the streets.

In February, binmen took two days of unofficial strike action when a colleague and a union representative were suspended.

The council refused to pay them for the time they took off.

It has vowed to remain firm on the service, which it says must be modernised to become more efficient and move towards recycling.

The GMB told members ballot papers should be returned by May 28.