Updated 09.30 (Northern)

NEW peace talks have been arranged in the Northern DOO dispute.

The news comes on the eve of yet another Saturday walkout by the RMT, and that strike appears to be going ahead.

Unless progress is made in the talks, which will be held next week, further strikes have been planned for 22 and 29 September. If they also go ahead, they would complete a series of six since late August.

A spokesman for the conciliation service Acas said: ‘Acas is maintaining a dialogue with Northern Rail and RMT and the parties have accepted an invitation to attend conciliation talks next Wednesday 19 September.’

Northern said it had ‘nothing to add’ to the Acas statement, while the RMT has yet to comment.