A ROW which broke out over the wearing of union badges by train conductors ended last night after rail bosses backed down.

Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) workers at some Arriva Trains Northern depots had been threatened with disciplinary action over the badges, which marked the long-running conductors' strike.

Arriva bosses said the wearing of the badges, which are about the size of a five pence piece, was harassing members of staff who broke picket lines during the pay dispute, which ended earlier this year.

But union officials accused the company of overreacting and said the badges were not intended to cause offence.

Now, following talks between both sides, the transport company has agreed that the badges, containing the words "Arriva dispute" and "RMT loyal", can continue to be worn.

RMT regional organiser Stan Herschel said: "It's about live and let live. "The badges are pretty inoffensive and are not designed to intimidate anyone."

One union spokesman said: "The conductors' dispute went on for a considerable period of time, with our members giving us a great deal of support, and the badges were struck to commemorate that.

"We were a bit disappointed by the response we got from the company because we think it is a bit of a storm in a teacup.

"It is a very small badge no bigger than a tie pin and unless you really get up close, you cannot even read the wording."

An Arriva conductor, who did not want to be named, said: "People would have a field day if a train was cancelled because the guard was sent home for wearing a badge that the management did not like."

The pay dispute involving Arriva conductors was settled in February after continuing for more than a year.

Ray Price, managing director of Arriva Trains Northern, said: "We expressed our concerns to the RMT regarding the issue of a badge given to those members who supported last year's strike action."

He added: "The union has now given us its strong assurances that there will be no harassment or intimidation of those employees who, because they did not support the strike, will not be issued with the new badge."