THOUSANDS of commuters face travel chaos on Monday after talks to resolve a 48-hour bus strike in Bradford broke down.

A total of 380 staff members will walk out of the First Bradford depot in Bowling Back Lane from 1.30am after last-ditch talks failed to reach an agreement.

The meeting between Unite union officials and the Advisory Conciliation And Arbitration Service (ACAS) in Leeds could not settle the dispute.

Unite union members say the primary reason for the action is the transfer of part of the 576 bus service from Bradford to Halifax which it claims has cost eight jobs.

It accuses First of allowing its Bradford services to "wither on the vine" by not recruiting enough drivers and failing to invest in its bus fleet.

First has now confirmed more than 70 services, including more than 40 school services, will not be running due to the strike.

It has, however, stressed that its services in the Bradford area which operate from its other depots will not be affected.

Bus services which will run during the strike include the 72, 363, 508 and a limited number of morning peak time 611 journeys. Routes run by a dedicated yellow school bus will continue as normal.

School services around the city and district which will not be running, include certain routes to Beckfoot, Belle Vue Girls, Tong Upper Schools and Dixons Allerton Academy.

First routes in Halifax and Calderdale, Huddersfield and Leeds, which go from the Bradford depot, will be taken off the road.

But First hope to run a limited, possibly hourly, service on key corridors in Bradford on both strike days. These routes are expected to include Bradford Interchange to Bradford Royal Infirmary and Manningham Lane.

These routes will be run by First staff from other depots.

Services run by other bus operators, including Bradford city free bus, will not be affected.

Unite has also claimed First is running the depot down with the intention of shutting it.

And it claims its members have complained over allegations of bullying and harassment on a daily basis.

First has dismissed all of the union's claims and condemned the decision to strike.

Shaun Noble, Unite spokesman, said yesterday: "We have concluded our meeting with First Management via ACAS and no agreement could be reached.

"Therefore the proposed strike action next Monday and Tuesday will go ahead.

"We recognise the inconvenience caused to the public by the strike.

"Our members will be picketing outside the depot on Bowling Back Lane from Monday morning."

First says it offered Unite a number of reassurances about improved driving duty conditions to avoid strike action.

Emma Taylor, business manager for First in Bradford, said: "I'm very disappointed Unite is still going ahead with strike action despite our efforts to avoid industrial action.

"This will bring massive disruption to customers especially those in education, work and those needing to keep appointments as well as causing personal hardship to our driving staff.

"Despite our assurances that we are not closing the depot and no-one has or is losing their job in Bradford, the trade union are determined to go ahead and strike.

"I call on the trade union to reconsider its position, call off this unnecessary strike and re-join us in meaningful talks."

Meanwhile, Transdev Keighley & District confirmed its services will not be affected by the strike and it hopes to add extra services at peak times to deal with extra demand.

A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesman said: "We urge both parties to get together to resolve their differences as soon as possible and restore an essential service for the public.

"In the meantime, people might wish to check for possible alternative ways to travel."