SHOPPERS face Christmas chaos with two strikes planned on the Tyne and Wear Metro, after a breakdown in talks.

A 24-hour strike will be staged from 9pm tomorrow, and a 48-hour strike from 9pm on Wednesday.

Members of three unions are in dispute with train operator Nexus over shorter working hours.

Workers on the train system voted overwhelmingly for industrial action - the RMT represents more than 300 Metro drivers, track and operating workers, with 86 per cent of union members balloted for action.

The unions said Nexus managers failed to keep a promise to reduce the working week from 37 hours to 35 hours as part of last year's pay deal.

Nexus managing director Ken McKay said last night trains would stop running from 9pm on Friday and it would not be possible to run even a skeleton service.

He said: "The number of people that will be on strike will make it impossible to run any kind of credible service.

"When you are talking about two Saturdays before Christmas there will be huge crowds in the city centre - and there is a home match.

"We have to think very carefully about how to manage safety. We are not going to be able to cope with reduced numbers of staff."

Sunderland city centre manager Peter Goldsbrough said: "We are extremely disappointed.

"Regardless of who is to blame or not to blame, the failure to reach an agreement shows a total lack of regard for businesses and members of the public for what are some of the busiest days of the year."