Bus drivers and other staff employed by transport company Arriva have rejected a pay deal and will go on strike on Friday.

A total of 482 Arriva Northumbria drivers and other workers had originally voted to walk out in their dispute over pay, but action was delayed while a new ballot was held.

Depots in north east England at Berwick, Alnwick, Ashington, Blyth, Hexham and Jesmond, Newcastle, will be affected.

The bus strike will coincide with a stoppage by 700 Arriva Trains Northern conductors across the north of England, who are also trying to force an improved pay offer.

Trains hit

In further industrial action, train station and retail staff employed by Arriva Trains started their own 48-hour walkout on Thursday, meaning customers could only buy tickets on trains.

Arriva has said its Thursday train services had not be hit, but that as many as half of its trains would not run on Friday.

It was hoped a strike by bus workers could have been averted following last-ditch talks between Arriva Northumbria, union officials, and the arbitration service, Acas.

Brian Anderson: Wanted offer accepted

The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) and the Rail Maritime Transport (RMT) union had recommended its workers accept the new offer.

About 480 Arriva Northumbria workers - who include engineering staff and cleaners as well as drivers - took part in the ballot, out of a workforce of 579.

Members of the TGWU and RMT had rejected the first 3% pay rise offer and instead demanded an increase to take all drivers to �7 an hour.

A revised, two-year pay deal was put to staff, but was also rejected.

Rolling programme

Brian Anderson, regional industrial organiser with the TGWU, which represents about 450 of the workers, had been recommending the offer was accepted.

He said the bus drivers' strike would have a big affect on the public, but that their argument was not with them.

Friday's stoppage by train conductors will be the latest in a rolling programme of strikes over pay.

The RMT is angry that Arriva has given drivers an 18% wage increase, while it claims other staff have been offered a much lower rate.