TRAIN drivers look set to strike after a last-ditch bid from Metro bosses to stall an industrial action ballot appeared to have failed last night.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union says it will today ballot its members on strike action on the Tyne and Wear Metro, action which would disrupt thousands of passengers.

Nexus says it has written to the RMT to try and head off any strike action, but the union has yet to receive the letter.

The row blew up after Nexus - which operates the Metro system - installed sub-contracted conductors on the Tynemouth to St James line at the start of the month.

RMT spokesman Stan Herschel said: "Nexus have turned this whole thing into a complete fiasco.

"They have introduced a half-baked scheme with these conductors.

"They have pretty much told us that they are new jobs and cheaper.

"We have given them ample time to reply to our demands, but we have not received a letter from them.

"Therefore, we will be requesting ballot proceedings."

Talks between the two parties broke down on June 8, five days after the conductors were introduced, and last Monday RMT bosses gave Nexus ten days to start further negotiations or face a strike ballot of its 300 members.

Action will not start for another three weeks. First, the union has to give one week's notice of the ballot to Nexus, then the balloting process could take up to two weeks.

A spokesman for Nexus confirmed a letter from its head of operation Robert Smith had been sent to RMT.

The letter explained that the sub-contractors ADI won the contract because they offered the best value for money.