An independent arbitrator has been brought in to settle a dispute over refurbishment schemes at two heritage railway stations in north Wales.

Earlier this year, the Llangollen Railway Trust employed Chester Masonry Group (CMG) to carry out work at Llangollen and Berwyn railway stations.

The whole job should have been done by the end of September, but we estimate only 50% of it has been done

Evan Green-Hughes, Llangollen Railway Trust

But employees from the construction firm walked out a month ago, claiming they had not been paid.

The two factions have also disagreed on how near the project, which began in May, is to completion.

The findings of the independent arbitrator is expected to be delivered in three weeks.

The Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) has said it withheld payments because of "questions about the amount and standards of the work".

"The whole job should have been done by the end of September, but we estimate only 50% of it has been done," said trust secretary Evan Green-Hughes.

But CMG partner Geoff Moore said the work on Llangollen station was 80% finished.

He claimed the reason for the missed payments was that the trust simply did not have the money.

This allegation has been denied by the LRT.

Refurbishment project

Mr Moore said the quality of the work was being assessed on a monthly basis by an architect and a monitor for the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is supporting the project.

Mr Green-Hughes said the matter was now being dealt with by solicitors.

Llangollen railway is a popular tourist attraction

He added that, once the arbitration process was completed, CMG would not be completing the project, but that it would be readvertised.

Works at Llangollen station included refurbishing the walkway over the track and the platform buildings.

Once the project had been completed, similar work to refurbish Berwyn station was due to start.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing �403,500 towards the project.

The Wales office of the Heritage Lottery Fund said it was aware of the situation, but that it was a matter for the trust and its contractors to resolve.