COMMUTERS across the region were suffering delays this morning as the third action by bus drivers in the region was held.

All Arriva services in County Durham, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar have been affected by the strike, as well as several services in North Yorkshire.

This is the third 24-hour stoppage over pay and conditions in three weeks to be called by drivers and comes after negotiations between unions and management at Arriva came to a stalemate.

Steve Noble of Arriva said: "We are keen to see the matter resolved and our services operating normally again and whilst we are unable to conduct discussions when industrial action is taking place we are ready to resume talks with the union.

"We are very concerned about the inconvenience being experienced by our customers because of the strike action." Limited services are running in the region, which are under contract to local authorities.

They are the shuttle bus in Richmond and the Moors bus between Darlington and the North York Moors.

Representatives of the Transport and General Workers Union could not be contacted this morning for comment.

After the first strike, traders in Darlington called for an end to the strike after a ten per cent fall in customers at the Cornmill shopping centre and Market Hall.