The RMT union said the two days of strike action was a success

Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members at Ashford and Waterloo employed by security firm Chubb, went on strike on Friday and Saturday.

But the union said it was very successful and claimed staff had to be bussed in to cover for those on strike.

The strike lasted for three-and-a-half hours on each day.

Security guards at Ashford International station in Kent walked out on Friday morning and Saturday morning, while at London's Waterloo station strikes were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

'Sit round the table'

Chubb said it had made significant moves to avoid the dispute but the union was being "intractable".

The security firm also said the timing of the dispute had neither the best interests of members or the travelling public at heart.

Eurostar's Paul Charles said: "It didn't cause any disruption and there were no problems for travellers.

"Clearly we hope that both sides now are going to take stock, they're going to sit round the table this week.

We are, as ever, very ready to talk RMT's Mick Cash

"We fully support Chubb in their moves, obviously they are one of our key suppliers."

But the RMT's assistant general secretary Mick Cash said: "It's been very successful, our members have fully supported the action and we're very pleased with the result.

"They know what our feelings are and they know the strength of feeling of their own employees.

"We are, as ever, very ready to talk."

A Chubb spokesman said it had signed a recognition agreement and offered a one-off payment of �200 per officer in addition to a 3% increase in basic bay which totalled an increase of 4.25% in 2005.