REDDITCH homes face running dry within days of a water workers strike starting.

Parts of the town are likely to be without water almost immediately, a union official has warned.

Albert Grinnell, shop steward at the town's East Worcestershire Waterworks plant in Hemming Road, says luck will determine how quickly Redditch's water supplies are hit.

A strike-call will lead to a walk out of 50 members of the General and Municipal Workers Union which maintains all the town's water supplies.

"Initially water will run normally but as soon as there is a burst problems will start," said Mr Grinnell.

"Its just a matter of luck how long it will be before supplies are hit but it could be very quickly," he added.

Mr Grinnell said essential services to hospitals and homes where someone was on a kidney machine will be maintained.

"Our members hate the prospect of striking, but it appears the only way we can get a reasonable raise," Mr Grinnell said.

The water workers asked for a wage increase of 30 per cent and have been offered just 10 per cent.