Eurostar staff are to stage seven days of strike action in a row over their work-life balance.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out from Friday morning until Monday night, and over the bank holiday weekend at the end of the month.

The union says the dispute is over unsocial hours and duty rosters for train managers.

It centres on Eurostar's apparent failure to stand by an agreement in 2008 designed to ensure train managers could expect a good work-life balance - which union members claim is being undermined.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our train manager members at Eurostar have a heavy commitment to shift work and unsocial hours and are sick and tired of the company's failure to honour agreements.

"Our members have every right to have a fair work/life balance that fulfils the operational needs of the company while guaranteeing quality time off for friends and family.

"It's now time for Eurostar to come to the negotiating table with a set of proposals that honours our agreements and guarantees our members a genuine work/life balance."

It is thought around 80 rail workers will be involved in the industrial action.

Eurostar said some timetables for this weekend have been altered.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of the RMT/TSSA plans for strike action this weekend.

"On the days of the strike we have made some modifications to our timetable to ensure that our passengers will all be able to travel on those days.

"Customers affected by any changes will be notified in advance with options for their journey."