MANAGERS at Arriva will roll up their sleeves today to ensure contract work goes ahead, despite a 24-hour strike called by its bus drivers.

The company confirmed last night it will operate its contract services, but there will be no scheduled services from County Durham to North Yorkshire. There is no action planned on the company's Tyneside routes.

No drivers are expected to break the 24-hour stoppage agreed by 800 Arriva drivers.

A spokeswoman for Arriva said: "We will be fulfilling our contract work tomorrow, but they will be the only Arriva services operating. The people who will be driving will be supervisors and managers."

Union officials say picket lines will operate at Arriva depots, and they will be explaining their grievances to the drivers of any Arriva service.

The drivers have the backing of the leader of one council which will be badly hit by the stoppage.

Councillor David Walsh, of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "In our borough, with the number of outlying towns and villages, the strike is going to affect a lot of people.

"However, the drivers have had a raw deal ever since the industry was deregulated in 1985.

"They have seen pay and conditions eroded to the point where many are near minimum wage."

The dispute is over pay and conditions with drivers saying the latest deal was for only 3.1 per cent, plus a two per cent award based on performance-related pay which had already been agreed.