Bus passengers will be spared the inconvenience of further industrial action in the run up to Christmas following the resolution of the Arriva bus drivers’ dispute yesterday.

Speaking after the news, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“The settlement reached between Unite the Union, GMB and Arriva shows that dialogue between both parties is vital to resolving disputes.

“In relation to the dispute between Merseyrail and the RMT Union dispute there are still two years before the new trains are introduced and so plenty of time for both sides to reach a settlement.

“I am therefore calling on the RMT to reconsider their strike action on 22 December – the last working day before Christmas – and instead join Merseyrail in agreeing to the call, by myself and the other city region leaders, for both parties to sit down for conciliation talks with no pre-conditions.”