Sale shoppers were hit by a second day of disruption during a 48-hour rail strike hitting passenger services in north Wales.

Hundreds of drivers at First North Western took part in another round of industrial action over a pay dispute.

The SRA should stop interfering in the conduct of collective bargaining Aslef General Secretary Mick Rix

Passengers heading for the shops along the First Northern Western route from Chester to Holyhead, Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Wrexham to Bidston were affected.

A renewed pay offer to drivers is being put to a ballot by the drivers' union Aslef, with the results being announced on the 20 January.

But services this week were suspended and replaced by buses until midnight on Thursday.

Wales and Borders drivers are not striking after two earlier December strikes were called off.

But their passengers connecting from Crewe and Chester will be hit by the First North Western strike.

Aslef members rejected by two to one an improved pay offer of 19% earlier in December and negotiations failed to halt two pre-Christmas strikes.

Alternative arrangements

First North Western had agreed to increase workers' salaries over a three-year period.

The scheme would have been phased in and reached �28,000 by 1 April 2004.

This was ruled unacceptable by Aslef and the company brought the date forward to 26 January 2004.

First North Western runs 1,500 trains a day from Monday to Saturday and 500 trains on Sundays across north Wales and the north west of England.

Passengers requiring journey information can contact First North Western on 0800 528 0200 or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.