Around 150 bus workers are set to walk out next week over a pay dispute with a North East travel giant.

In response to a pay offer they call a "real-terms pay cut", engineers from bus operator Go North East will walk out on Monday (December 19) until Sunday (December 25).

This will take place alongside strike action by Stagecoach drivers in Sunderland, announced by GMB last week.

Go North East said they have planned for the strikes, and service will continue as normal.

Read more: Teesside police chase sees driver narrowly miss oncoming train

Unite, the union helping organise these strikes, confirmed engineers had rejected a 10 per cent pay increase, claiming it was a real terms pay cut.

In a statement, Dave Telford, regional officer at Unite, said: "We don't want to be doing that, we regret that, but if we have no other option, the employer won't return to the table with an improved offer, members will be left with no option but to strike."

He said buses would not be able to go on the road without engineers, and this could impact hundreds of bus services each day.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, added: "Go Ahead is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase.

"Its failure to do so is all about boosting its profits and not about affordability."

A real-terms pay cut is a pay package which does not rise with the rate of inflation and cost of living.

The union said its strike action would affect services in Consett, Dunston, Gateshead, Hexham, North Shields, Sunderland and Washington.

Read more: Met Office issue yellow warning for snow in North East – here’s when

Nigel Featham, company director at Go North East, said the company was in a loss-making position, and strike action would achieve nothing.

He said: "In spite of that, we recognise our responsibility to be consistent with all teams and we are prepared to increase engineer wages - however the 19% and 25% wage awards Unite are seeking are simply not an option.

"The choice is between finding a realistic basis to move forward on - or further job losses and a company in ruin.

"Taking strike action in these circumstances achieves nothing aside from engineers being paid lower strike wages for the duration; we need Unite to engage with us to secure everyone's future."

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here