Plans are being drawn up to ease disruption for rail travellers in the North West after weekend strikes were announced.

On Friday rail firm First North Western (FNW) said it was working with other rail and bus operators to try to relieve passengers' frustration.

The move came in response to the announcement by train drivers' union Aslef, that it's members will strike every weekend from 28 September to 24 November.

Delegates to Labour's Blackpool conference could be disrupted by the action, which is part of a long-running dispute over pay, although Virgin Trains is laying on special services for the event.

We will again meet Aslef officials to try and...stop this senseless disruption

Vernon Barker, First North Western

Vernon Barker, FNW managing director, said: "We are working on contingency plans with other rail and bus operators to try to offer the best possible transport service across our region.

"We will again meet Aslef officials to try and seek a settlement and stop this senseless disruption.

"The first weekend strike will not only disrupt travel to the Labour Party conference in Blackpool, but will prevent people from using rail to see the resort's illuminations."

Aslef said on Thursday it had decided drivers would also stop rest day working from the end of this month.

'Strings attached'

The union's general secretary, Mick Rix, is also writing to Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) chairman Richard Bowker seeking an urgent meeting to try to resolve the dispute.

Mr Rix said there was no chance of the dispute being settled while FNW had its "hands tied" by the SRA over what it could offer.

The dispute centres around a 19% FNW pay offer to drivers over three years, which the company said was "beyond the dreams" of many workers.

Aslef claims the company is trying to attach unacceptable "strings" to the offer.