A BUS chief has pledged to keep talking to a union to try to avert a planned strike.

First East England bus drivers are set to walk out on Monday, in the first of a series of 24-hour strikes.

The bus company will try to run services, but said passengers would probably have to make alternative arrangements.

Members of Unite from Colchester, Clacton, Harwich and Braintree say they are taking action because they have not been offered a pay rise.

Alan Pilbeam, managing director of First in Essex, said the company would keep talking to Unite, but could not meet its pay rise demands.

He said: “It is very disappointing that despite our best efforts, Unite has decided to follow this course of action.

“This will result in the inconvenience to the lives of tens of thousands of our passengers and severe disruption to businesses in the region.

“We are not asking for pay cuts or even job cuts, only that our drivers continue to work for the same hourly rate as they did last year.

“We will be discussing the matter further this week with the union in an attempt to resolve matters.

“However, in the current economic climate, we are simply not able to meet the union’s demands.”