TALKS will resume this morning to attempt to avert further strike action at a Weardale manufacturing company.

About 200 workers walked out of the Astrum plant on Thursday, in protest over the lack of a pay rise this year, after being subject to a pay freeze since 2008.

An overtime ban has been in place at the tank track maker, in Stanhope, for more than a week, and two more one-day strikes are planned for Wednesday this week and next. Unions have warned that more stoppages could follow.

Workers voted to take industrial action against Astrum following the rejection of the company’s offer of a pay rise, and last-ditch talks on Wednesday last week broke down without resolution.

However, unions said they remain hopeful that a way forward can still be found.

Stephen Thompkins, regional organiser for the GMB union, said: “We were disappointed there was no new offer on the table when we met on Wednesday.

“However, there is still time to avert further planned action, and we are hopeful there will be an offer made to us which members can ballot on.”