HOLIDAYMAKERS could yet be saved from severe disruption after a late attempt to avert an airport strike was made yesterday.

Managers and trade unionists at Newcastle Airport agreed to meet after baggage handlers voted by three to one to reject an improved pay offer.

But union negotiator Joe Keith warned that the first of a series of one-day strikes was still likely to go ahead on Saturday, September 8.

Holidaymakers have been requested to contact their travel agents and airlines for information. Newcastle Airport has revealed it has contingency plans to keep disruption to a minimum, but workers say up to 25 flights could be affected.

A spokesman for company Groundstar said that the Government mediation agency, Acas, had been called to monitor the talks, and each of the company's 240 employees have been sent a letter.

About 150 employees are in the Transport and General Workers' Union. They rejected a four-and-a-half per cent pay increase, about double the original offer, in a vote on Wednesday.

Mr Keith, the union's regional industrial organiser, said: "We told the company we were available for further talks, and we are hopeful they will be the first step in resolving this matter."