BUS drivers in Weymouth and Bridport will walk out for another four days as strike action by Unite members enters its third week.

First Dorset drivers walked out for five days last week in the midst of a dispute over pay and conditions.

They are carrying out further action this week, with a walkout on Monday set to be followed by strike action on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Now, First has announced that drivers are intending to add four more days to the industrial action - on Monday, July 4; Wednesday, July 6; Friday, July 8 and Sunday, July 10.

The union has also announced that its drivers will "work to rule" from Monday, July 4.

Marc Reddy, managing director of First Dorset, said: “The union’s reckless action to hold further strikes is designed to cause as much damage to our business as possible, and it is done so without any consideration for our customers, or the future of the company as a whole. 

"Union officials also appear to have little regard for the damage they are causing to the local economy, much of which is seasonal and which relies on visitors being able to get out and about to shops and leisure attractions."

Unite has repeatedly argued that its members feel like "poor relations" within the company, with drivers at other First branches paid higher wages.

Drivers for First Dorset earn £8.80 an hour in comparison to the £9.50 an hour earned by First drivers in Yeovil.

Mr Reddy added: "The only way to resolve this dispute is through negotiation, but disappointingly, the union has chosen not to engage in discussions with us and to date it has refused to go to ACAS for a formal arbitration settlement.

"I’d urge the union once again to get back to the negotiating table so that we can resolve this dispute as soon as possible and spare our customers any further inconvenience.”

Bob Lanning, Unite regional officer, said negotiations had reached the "stuck record stage".

He added: “We understand that local shops and businesses are being hit by the strikes – our members don’t take this action lightly, but they are fed up with being the ’poor pay relations’ and with the point blank refusal of management to rectify these pay anomalies, despite seven months of talks.

“Unite does not want the Weymouth and Bridport economies to suffer as the holiday season gets into full swing.

"Local shops should put pressure on the bus company to get around the table for constructive talks.

"We are ready for talks at any time, any place.”  

First Dorset has been able to operate 87 per cent of its services during the course of the strike action.

Jackie Isbell, chairman of the First Dorset customer panel, has been updating passengers via the First Buses Weymouth page on Facebook.

She said: "There has been a lot of positives for the drivers. People understand that they are at the end of their tether. 

"There are a lot of unhappy people because they cannot get to their jobs if they are early starters or home if they are late workers.

"We don't know how long it is going to go on for."