BUS passengers face chaos after drivers turned down a fresh deal in a pay dispute with First.

A series of strikes - the first on Friday - is set to paralyse bus services in Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport, after union officials advised more than 100 drivers to reject the offer.

First wrote to its employees offering a one-year deal of a five per cent wage increase, in addition to back pay of £150, on condition that they agreed to abandon proposed strikes on Friday, July 5, Thursday, July 11, Friday, July 12, Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18.

Drivers were given until 5pm tomorrow to accept the new terms, which were thrown out at a meeting held at Weymouth's Labour Club last night.

The regional organiser for the National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers, Phil Bialyk, said: "We could not accept that First has decided to write to employees. This action was a tactic to break the strike before Friday, and has only furthered the dispute."

Pay talks have been taking place between First and drivers since the beginning of the year, with strike action also planned for last month.

Drivers want a better wage, shorter hours and overtime payments. They also want the same working conditions as First's Somerset workers.

The previous offer had been a two-year deal, worth 9.5 per cent.

Paul Jenkins, First's operations director for Somerset and Dorset, said: "It is most regrettable that the RMT membership rejected the deal. Under the previous pay scheme which was also rejected, drivers in Dorset would have achieved parity with their colleagues in Somerset in the third year.

"There is no doubt that the RMT strikes will be very damaging for the company and its customers. Any customer queries will be handled on (01305) 783645."