STAFF at the Department for Work and Pensions voted to go on strike in protest at job cuts, the Public and Commercial Services union announced.

The Government has a target of cutting 30,000 jobs from the DWP and has already axed around 15,000 which the union said had led to a deterioration in services for some of the most needy and vulnerable people in society. Talks are expected to be held today, but there is little hope of averting a strike later this month.

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This vote sends out a clear message that our members will not sit back and allow the services that they deliver and care about to be damaged beyond repair."

"The race to slash jobs is impacting on services that some of the most vulnerable rely on."

The union said people were having to wait up to two months to see jobs advisers and claimed that up to one million calls had gone unanswered at Jobcentres in recent months.

"It is unacceptable that these cuts, in the name of efficiency, are actually leading to people having to wait longer to get advice about finding a job or understanding the benefits they are entitled to."

The union is calling for a halt to the job losses and said it was willing to hold fresh talks with ministers to try to avoid a strike.

Union officials will meet on Tuesday to set the strike dates.