UNION chiefs did not rule out further strike action in Bradford last night as a 48-hour walk-out by bus drivers came to a close.

Only 15 of 177 First buses were in service yesterday as 380 drivers based at the company's Bradford depot joined industrial action, which ended at 1.29am today.

And Unite warned there may be further disruption as a second row rumbled over overtime.

The union said the main reason for the strike, which started at 1.30am on Monday, was the transfer of the 576 bus service from Bradford to Halifax, which it said had cost eight jobs .

First denies there have been any job losses and said it was actually currently recruiting drivers and investing in Bradford.

Around 180 drivers stood firm on the picket line at the First Bradford depot in Bowling Back Lane yesterday.

Unite regional officer Harriet Eisner has warned the union may be forced to take further industrial action and said drivers had been told their overtime would be cut.

She said: "We can't rule out further industrial action. We are ready to talk and have meaningful conversations with First. But we firstly need reassurances that they are not going to behave in the way they already have.

"A lot of the drivers rely on overtime but they have been told that they will not be getting the same amount of overtime as they would. They rely on this supplementary income. I think it's tit-for-tat."

Unite branch secretary Mohammed Taj added: "We are confident we still have the public support."

First now hopes to open negotiations with Unite representatives to avoid any further action in Bradford.

A company spokesman would not specifically comment on the overtime claims, but said: "There are no other dates for strikes that we are aware of.

"We hope Unite will join us for meaningful conversations as soon as possible after this action. During this very difficult period we have still managed to carry over 8,000 customers each day.

"Over the rest of this week we will work hard to return the service to normal as quickly as possible following this very disruptive period for customers."

First placed an advertisement in yesterday's Telegraph & Argus explaining its position.

Managing director of First West Yorkshire Paul Matthews said: "I very much regret that the action over these last two days will have caused massive inconvenience for our customers who rely on our Bradford network every day.

"First is committed to Bradford and so am I.

"We have plans to grow customers and invest in Bradford with 12 new buses joining our fleet this summer."

Thousands of commuters faced a second successive day of traffic chaos yesterday.

Beverley Heenan, 35, of Woodside, had to take time off work as her daughters, aged 14 and 16, could not get to Queensbury High School due to the strike.

She said: "The buses were not working in Queensbury on both days so they could not go to school and they missed important days at school with their exams coming up."