Striking bus driver 'feels sorry' for passengers

Bus driver Kirsty Rogers said she feels sorry for the bus passengers

A striking bus driver says she feels sorry for passengers, as strikers gather in Bristol city centre.

About 600 drivers for First West of England's Citylines service walked out over a pay dispute on Wednesday. On Friday, they met in the centre for a demonstration.

First said it wanted to "find a solution" to the "unnecessary" strikes. However, Unite said the company is "putting profits over people".

Kirsty Rogers, one of the striking bus drivers, said: "I feel very sorry for the passengers and if it was up to me I wouldn't be out here but unfortunately the company have given us no choice."

Bus passenger Chloe Booth said she supports the strike

During the strikes, First Bus is operating a reduced service in the city.

Bus passenger Chloe Booth said: "I study at Bristol City college and take two buses to get there. It's a little busy but it's manageable.

"I think the strike is good, the bus drivers get a lot of hassle from passengers. I think they deserve it, it's a harsh job and I wouldn't do it personally."

First West of England managing director Doug Claringbold said: "These [strikes] are unnecessary and, most importantly, hugely disruptive to our customers, and it is within the hands of the union to stop this action.

"We have always maintained an open dialogue with the union and while they continue to reject our full and final offer, which has been accepted by other areas in our region, we still hope to find a solution to encourage the union to call off their strikes."

Bus strikes could affect travel to the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final

Meanwhile, people heading to a Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final in Bristol are being warned their journeys could be impacted by the strikes.

The match between New Zealand and Canada is set to start at 19:00 BST at Ashton Gate Stadium but match day shuttle buses will still operate for fans who have already purchased their bus tickets.

A spokesperson for the stadium advised all fans to check before travelling and allow additional time for their journeys ahead of kick-off, as extra traffic in the area is expected.

"The roads around Ashton Gate get extremely busy on match days and, with no parking available near the stadium, we encourage all fans travelling by car to use city centre car parks and walk to the stadium from there," they added.

This week's strike is due to finish later but drivers have now voted for further industrial action from 1-14 October, after talks broke down between First and Unite.