Rail strikes over this weekend by First North Western Train drivers which had been called off have been reinstated by the drivers' union, Aslef.

The strikes, which will hit rail passengers across north Wales and the north west of England, are in addition to 48-hour stoppages beginning on New Year's Eve and on 2 February.

The union claims the company has broken a promise to increase drivers' pay to �28,000 a year.

First North Western said it was "disappointed and very surprised" that this weekend's strikes - which had been called off - were now back on.

Extremely dismayed

Last week, Aslef said it threw out a 4% pay offer for its members because of the way the wage increase was to be phased in.

First North Western runs 1,500 trains a day from Monday to Saturday and 500 trains on Sundays across north Wales and the north west of England.

Colin Smith from Aslef, said: "We want to resolve this dispute, our drivers do not just take strike action at the drop of a hat.

"We are a very responsible trade union."

First North Western is calling on officials at Aslef to call off the strike and meet with them.

Vernon Barker, First North Western's managing director, said: "We are extremely dismayed and thoroughly disappointed by Aslef's decision as it had previously expressed a willingness to hold further talks.

"This strike will cause enormous inconveniences to our passengers in the last weekend before Christmas when they are traditionally out visiting friends and relatives or doing last-minute shopping."

Aslef also plans to strike on New Year's Eve, 1 January, 2 and 3 February.