BUS drivers in Harrow Weald have vowed to keep striking until their pay demands have been met.

More than 40 drivers picketted their garage in High Road yesterday (Monday) during their second strike in a week, a marked increase following the poor turnout on Tuesday last week.

With more than 60 bus routes around London disrupted, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) refused the offer of a five per cent increase by Harrow-based bus-operator Metroline.

Drivers currently earn £10.33 an hour and are resolute in reaching their £11.

Paul Eyres, 50, has been a bus driver for 13 years and is branch secretary for TGWU.

He said: "The average shift for a bus driver is 10 hours or more, so 67p an hour can make a difference of about £40 a week.

"Since privatisation, bus drivers earn considerably less that someone standing on a platform on the Underground directing people.

"We earn less than train drivers but work more hours than them."

Drivers from neighbouring garages Edgware and North Wembley were also on strike.

Paul added: "Everyone on strike apologises for any disruption to the services, but we haven't had a strike for a long time."

For Hughie White, 59, of Harrow Weald, this was the second day he spent out in the cold but was pleased with the added support.

He said: "I am delighted that more people are supporting the strike.

"Their own common sense and feeling of solidarity made them strike with us."

Metroline said it was disappointed that talks had failed.

It said drivers earning £24,000 a year, would get just under £25,000 with the current offer.

Father-of-two Naresh Sanganee, 38, of Belmont, said: "We need more money, we deserve the money.

"What we are asking is the fair thing."

TGWU spokesman Jim Buckley said: "I am very disappointed.

"I went to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitrtion Service (Acas) last week in the high hopes of reaching a settlement and came away with nothing."

A ballot on the company's offer will be held at all Metroline bus garages on Friday.

If drivers do not accept it they will strike again on Monday next week.

sanand@london.newsquest.co.uk