FOOTBALL fans will be among tens of thousands of passengers facing transport chaos during a 24-hour stoppage on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

The strike will begin at 7pm, on January 18, with Newcastle United fans travelling to St James's Park for the club's home game with Fulham on January 19 hard hit by the standstill.

The action is being taken by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), and Amicus over working hours.

Representatives of four unions and Metro management had reached agreement before Christmas - narrowly averting a series of planned stoppages over the festive period.

While the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) accepted the deal, members of Aslef have already voted to reject a renewed offer, but have yet to decide on industrial action.

Union leaders have accused Nexus of failing to keep a promise to reduce the working week from 37 to 35 hours as part of a pay deal from 2002.

A Nexus spokesman said: "We are dismayed that the union has chosen to level a strike date at us especially one which falls upon a Newcastle home game.

"This is a cynical ploy to maximise disruption to the people of Tyne and Wear while minimising disruption to the unions.

"However, our position is clear. We are willing to talk at any time providing there is something to talk about."