Talks to try to avert weekend strike action on the North West rail network have been brought forward.

Leaders of train drivers' union Aslef are due to meet rail firm First North Western (FNW) on Tuesday.

The talks come ahead of the first scheduled 48-hour walkout on Saturday, which could be followed by strikes every weekend into November.

Delegates at the Labour Party conference in Blackpool will have their travel disrupted by the action if it goes ahead.

'Vital' weekend

Aslef agreed to meet Vernon Barker, FNW's managing director, in Manchester on Tuesday evening, to discuss drivers' long-running pay dispute with the company.

Mr Barker said: "We are hopeful of making progress in the dispute following our successful request to bring the meeting forward.

"This weekend is vital for us and our passengers. Not only do we aim to run a service for all customers but also to provide trains for many visitors heading for Blackpool, either for the illuminations or for the Labour Party conference."

Weekend strikes are due to continue every week until 24 November, if a solution to the dispute cannot be found.

'Hands tied'

FNW says it means all its weekend services will be cancelled, while some services on weekdays could also be affected. It plans to offer a limited bus service on some routes.

Aslef has claimed a 19% pay offer over three years from FNW has "unacceptable strings attached".

Mick Rix, its general secretary, 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.