It is a year since conductors at Arriva Trains Northern staged their first strike in a pay dispute which has led to 20 separate walk-outs.

Workers for the Sunderland-based company want to see their salaries rise from �15,500 to �17,000. Arriva has tried to stop the action by offering a 4% pay rise.

Conductors are expected to vote on a fresh pay offer on Friday which could bring the dispute to an end.

The conductor managers... understand the safety responsibilities they have and they carry out those duties properly Euan Cameron, Arriva

But the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has urged members to reject the deal branding the new offer as a "disgrace".

The dispute began when train drivers were given an 18-20% pay deal, raising their salary to �28,000, while conductors were offered 3%.

The offer on the table on Friday will be 4% and a �250 lump sum.

During strike days Arriva has managed to run a limited timetable with the company claiming that about 200 of the 700 conductors have returned to work.

Safety checks

Managers have also been acting as conductors, leading to claims public safety is being put at risk - an allegation vigorously denied by Arriva.

Euan Cameron, managing director of Arriva Trains Northern, said: "The managers understand the safety responsibilities they have and they carry out those duties properly.

"I think what we have got here is some scaremongering to try and worry customers.

"They have had the appropriate safety training to make sure they can do the job the conductors do.

"There are safety checks imposed on this company to make sure that we operate safely."