Metro strike on night of One Direction show cancelled

The UK leg of One Direction's world tour gets under way in Sunderland on Wednesday

Strike action which would have disrupted travel plans on the night of one of the North East's biggest pop concerts has been called off.

Members of the RMT union were due to walk out on Wednesday when thousands of people will be at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland to see One Direction.

It followed the dismissal of a worker by Metro operator DB Regio.

The union said all industrial action has now been cancelled after an "acceptable settlement" was reached.

Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, said a strike was called off this morning following further talks between the RMT union and DB Regio.

Deputy director general of Nexus, Tobyn Hughes, said: "I'm pleased that the strike has been called off. Common sense has prevailed and a day of major disruption to thousands of our customers has been averted.

"Metro services will now operate as usual tomorrow and there will still be extra services for the One Direction concert in Sunderland."

An RMT spokesman said the management had "come to their senses" and made an "acceptable" offer.

A DB Regio spokesman said: "This is great news for all of our passengers who use Metro to commute, as well as those travelling to the One Direction concert at the Stadium of Light."