TRAIN services across Dorset are disrupted again as railway workers stage their third and final strike of the week.

Train services have been crippled again today across the UK for another 24-hour strike by thousands of workers in a bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are walking out for the third time this week, with little sign of a breakthrough to the deadlocked row.

The other official strike days took place on Tuesday and Thursday this week and saw train stations across Dorset empty.

The action is affecting South Western Railway services to London and Great Western Railway services to Bristol.

On the Waterloo line, trains are running from Southampton to London on strike days but there are no services from Dorset.

Services tomorrow will be reduced to a 'late starting Sunday level of service'.

National Highways is advising drivers to plan their journeys and check their vehicles ahead of the planned rail strike this weekend as motorways and major A-roads are expected to be busier than usual because of disruption on large parts of the rail network.

Talks between the RMT and rail employers have been held throughout this week and are expected to resume in the next few days.