The strike, which begins at two tomorrow morning, means there will be no Arriva bus services in Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

The drivers' industrial action is continuous, meaning there is no indication when it might end.

Members of the unions Unite and GMB are involved.

Unite says its members are striking over "pitiful" pay offers made by the German-owned transport company. One proposed a rise of three percent with no strings attached; the other suggested six percent, but included the removal of Saturday enhanced pay and reductions in sick pay. Both offers are below the current real inflation rate of 11.7 percent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This dispute is entirely of Arriva's own making. It can fully afford to ensure its workers receive decent pay and conditions. Instead, Arriva has made our members a pitiful offer. Not only do they want workers to accept a real terms pay cut, they also want them to sacrifice their sick pay. This is just not acceptable."

For Arriva, Howard Farrall, North West & Wales Area Operating Director, said: "We are very disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with Unite and GMB, who have confirmed they plan to hold a strike for an indefinite period across services in the North West from 02.00 Wednesday 20th July.

"Our people play a hugely important role keeping communities moving and they fully deserve a fair pay rise – especially with the cost-of-living increasing so much.  

It's why despite the significant pressures on the bus sector with increasing costs and passenger numbers still at below pre-pandemic levels, we have offered our people a generous pay rise of 8.5% - an increase far higher than most workers are receiving from their employers at a time of considerable economic pressure.

"It isn't right that the Unions wouldn't put this latest offer to their own members and allow them to exercise their democratic right to vote. The mandate for strikes arose from a ballot of Unite and GMB members on a previous pay offer, meaning strikes are continuing without the improved proposal being put to employees by the Unions

"Strike action is counter-productive, harms the communities and customers we serve, and damages bus travel at a time when we should all be focused on building recovery from the pandemic. We're calling on Unite and GMB to abandon their plans for this damaging strike and to ballot their members on the new offer."

In the ballot that did take place, around 1800 workers returned a 96 percent vote in favour of strike action. The turnout was 72 percent.