Rail staff on Arriva Trains Northern are to stage another 24-hour walkout amid accusations of dirty tricks from both sides of the dispute.

Conductors and station and retail staff will strike on Saturday in support of their long-running campaign against low pay.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union claims Arriva has used "bullying" tactics to stop staff striking.

But Arriva has accused the union of intimidating its members.

A number of good offers have been put on the table and it is time for the RMT to take stock of the situation

Euan Cameron, Arriva

The nine-month dispute has centred around the RMT's demands for a 10% pay rise for conductors.

Arriva claims up to 200 employees - including 80 conductors - have said they will not strike on Saturday.

The company is hoping over 75% of its network will be covered.

Arriva has claimed some RMT officials have distributed "intimidating" material, including the names and addresses of members of staff who have decided to work on strike days.

Euan Cameron, managing director of Arriva Trains, said: "A number of good offers have been put on the table and it is time for the RMT to take stock of the situation.

"We urge the RMT to devote their energies to the resolution of disputes instead of intimidating their own members and making misleading and inaccurate accusations."

Industry rates

The RMT has denied it had distributed names and addresses to local members, saying it would be against the law to do so.

Bob Crow, RMT union general secretary, said: "It is breathtaking that a company that has tried every bullying tactic in the book has the gall to accuse RMT of intimidation.

"Arriva have been trying to bully our members from the very start of the dispute.

"They have cancelled safety courses, threatened to sack people for talking to the press, told members they won't be promoted if they continue to strike and have been throwing disciplinaries around like confetti.

"After nine months in dispute Arriva must understand that RMT will no longer tolerate what are amongst the lowest pay rates in the rail industry."