HUNDREDS of call centre staff face having to walk, catch the bus or take a train to work because their new car park will not be big enough.

Vodafone's 1,200 North Staffordshire workers are preparing to move to a new multi-million pound call centre at Etruria in November.

But the office will have just 400 parking spaces, sparking fears of traffic chaos around the site.

Now Vodafone has contacted staff after being told about complaints over the parking issue.

The move to the new centre will result in the closure of existing centres in Chesterton, Newcastle and Etruria.

One worker, who has been at Vodafone for four years, told The Sentinel: "We knew we would not all get a parking space.

"All we wanted was some support, advice and understanding, but we were told if we were unhappy we could submit our notice.

"We were also told we were expected to use public transport and we could face disciplinary action if there were complaints from neighbouring businesses about employee parking.

"We are worried we are going to lose our jobs because of this.

"Some of us are going to face a lot of problems with the new location and were expecting some support.

"Myself and many colleagues are unable to use public transport to travel to work.

"I have to drop off four children to two schools and a nursery before I go to work. The cost of getting into work by public transport would be too much."

But Vodafone says it was only allowed to create 400 parking spaces at the Etruria Valley site, because of Government rules.

It already operates a "needs-based" system at its Newbury headquarters, which is used to work out which staff can have a space.

A Vodafone spokesman said: "The Government rules are for environmental reasons, to ensure people have to consider alternative ways to travel to work.

"Alternatives are things like car-sharing, walking, cycling, motorbike, bus, train or lifts. We haven't yet finished working through our parking policy.

"But it is likely to follow many of the same principles as our Newbury headquarters."