BBC strike threat gaining support

A proposed strike at the BBC is gaining support across the corporation, with staff angry at possible cuts to the BBC's news operations.

According to The Guardian, head of BBC News Peter Horrocks has said in an email that many editors in the news department "believe there will be strong support for action," because staff want to protect their jobs, and see cuts to the news budget as not delivering what the public want from the BBC.

Horrocks says in the email: "Many of the assistant editors will be militant as they are under threat themselves," the Guardian reports.

The BBC has confirmed that it does not have any plans to axe digital channels BBC Three and Four as a way to plug its £2 billion funding gap, but has said it needs to make annual savings of 3% over the next five years across the corporation.

Further details about the cuts are expected from the BBC Trust following its meeting on October 17.