BUS workers in Somerset and Cornwall have launched 48 hours of strike action over pay.

More than 300 members of the transport union RMT employed by First South West were due to walk out at depots in Penzance and Camborne in Cornwall and Taunton in Somerset this morning.

RMT said the operator had “failed to put forward acceptable offers to bus workers” despite First Group announcing pre-tax profits of £139 million, an increase of 33 per cent.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “First South West has shown no interest in trying to genuinely settle this dispute or look after the best interest of their employees.

“Instead, they have tried to divide the workforce and attack hard-fought terms and conditions of bus workers to push through a poor pay offer.

“Our members voted overwhelmingly for strike action and are not interested in pitiful last-minute offers that do not meet their pay aspirations and ultimately seek to undermine their conditions of work.”