Staff at a major newspaper distribution company are taking industrial action after turning down what a union called a "pitiful" pay offer.

Unite said 300 workers at Menzies Distribution will go on strike for two 24-hour periods, from 11pm on Friday, September 23, and 7pm on Monday, September 26.

It comes after a pay offer in April led to wages rising to £7.25 an hour, five pence above the national living wage of £7.20.

Unite national officer for the graphical, paper and media sector Ian Tonks said: "For the first time ever our members working for Menzies Distribution are taking strike action - a sign of their strong rejection of the pitiful pay offer.

"The strikes will cause severe disruption to the distribution of newspapers and magazines to newsagents and railway stations, particularly in the south east and Scotland.

"The wiping out of extra pay and time off for bank holidays has caused particular anger among our members, which has been compounded by the bosses' obsessive addiction to minimum wage pay levels.

"It is still not too late to avert this industrial action and we urge the management to get around the negotiating table and put forward a pay award that truly reflects the hard work that our members do 24/7."

Menzies distributes the majority of major Scottish and UK newspapers as well as a large number of regional titles and magazines from sites in Dundee, Dunfermline, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Irvine, and Paisley.

The company formerly operated a chain of high street shops under the John Menzies brand.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Menzies Distribution management representatives have been engaged in ongoing meetings with Unite the union regarding the current dispute over pay and conditions, which involves approximately 300 union members out of the company's 2800 employees.

"A revised and final offer, which we believe is a fair one given market conditions, was made to the union with the aim of resolving this dispute.

"The union, having balloted its members on the revised offer, has now advised that they have rejected it and will pursue industrial action.

"This action consists of an overtime ban and two stoppages, on September 23 and 26.

"Menzies Distribution has robust contingency plans in the event that any industrial action by the union goes ahead over the coming weeks, and we remain confident that no disruption to services will be experienced by retailers or publishers."

John McLellan, director of the Scottish Newspaper Society, called for the two sides to reach an agreement ahead of the strikes.

He said: "It is very disappointing that newspaper readers are being used as a bargaining chip in this dispute and we can see no reason why both sides cannot get back round the negotiating table and come to an agreement."