STAFF at Arriva will step up their industrial action next week, after bus drivers voted overwhelmingly in favour of an overtime ban.

The new move is in addition to 24-hour stoppages on Fridays, which will continue.

Shoppers and workers were yesterday again forced to make alternative arrangements with all Arriva services from County Durham down to North Yorkshire and across to Teesside suspended for the day.

The pay dispute is now entering its fourth week with management and union still poles apart.

Mike Brider, of the transport and general workers union (TGWU), said: "The dispute will continue as we have made it very very clear that the company's offer of 3.1 per cent is not anywhere near adequate.

"We held a meeting of 400 drivers and they agreed overwhelmingly to increase the action with an overtime ban.

"The management at Arriva are aware now they must make an improved offer to the drivers.

"The company is making profits of around £65m, and paying the 'fat cats' at the top of the company thousands, while a minibus driver is taking home £140 a week.

"It's time Arriva realised it must submit a bigger offer."

The dispute has seen no Arriva services on Fridays for the past month, with only contract work being carried out with managers taking the wheel.

Arriva managing director Steve Noble said: "We are very disappointed that there has been no change following the mass meeting arranged by the TGWU, and we understand that disruption to Arriva North-East bus services on Friday will continue."