TENS of thousands of commuters will be hit by a 24-hour bus strike across East London on Monday. Pay talks between East London Company and the Unite transport workers’ union have broken down

By Mike Brooke

TENS of thousands of commuters will be hit by a 24-hour bus strike across East London on Monday.

Pay talks between East London Bus & Coach Company and the Unite transport workers' union have broken down.

The company said tonight (Friday) it now expects strikes in support of the drivers' pay claim to go ahead from 3am on Monday (November 9) for 24 hours.

This will hit all services on 57 routes operated from garages in Bow, West Ham, Upton Park, Leyton, Barking and Romford.

The routes likely to be to be affected are: D3, 5, 8, 15, 25, 26, 30, 48, 55, 56, 62, 69, 86, 97, 101, 103, 104, 106, 115, 145, 147, 158, 169, 175, 205, 230, 238, 241, 247, 257, 262, 276, 277, 287, 294, 296, 300, 325, 330, 366, 369, 376, 387, 396, 473, 496, 608, 647, 674, 678, 687, N8, N15, N26, N55, N86 and N550.

"We are disappointed that matters have reached this stage," the company's chief executive Nigel Barrett said tonight.

"The current economic environment has an impact on our revenue and growth. In the circumstances, we are unable to offer any pay rise."

Figures released by the company put basic pay for a five-day week from �28,000 to �31,000 a year, with drivers on the 25 'bendy' bus along Whitechapel and Mile End from Oxford Street earning above �35,000.

Commuters are being advised to check travel news on Monday.