An attempt to avert weekend strike action on the North West rail network has ended in failure.

Talks between train drivers' union Aslef and rail firm First North Western (FNW) over a pay dispute broke down on Wednesday night.

It was hoped the meeting would lead to the suspension of a series of 48-hour strikes at the weekend, which will start on Saturday and run into November.

No further talks are currently planned.

The strike will also disrupt services in Wales and delegates travelling to the Labour conference in Blackpool.

'Refusing to ballot'

Aslef will also continue a ban on rest-day working agreements with FNW, which will have a knock-on effect on rail services during the week.

FNW said it had made a further improved offer to Aslef that it believed addresses the union's concern about "unacceptable strings" attached to a 19% pay deal.

"Aslef is refusing to either ballot its members on the latest offer, to go to arbitration, or suspend strike action whilst talks continue," the company said.

'Hands tied'

Vernon Barker, FNW's managing director, said he was disappointed that earlier progress in the dispute had been set back.

"It now looks impossible to avoid strike action this weekend and cuts in services next week as we respond to a lack of driver availability," he said.

Aslef's general secretary Mick Rix has written to the Strategic Rail Authority in an attempt to bring the dispute to an end.

Mr Rix said last week that FNW currently has its "hands tied" by the SRA over what it can offer drivers.