FLINTSHIRE and Wrexham residents who rely on Arriva buses for transport are facing an uncertain run up to Christmas.

Five weeks of strike action involving Arriva Cymru bus drivers is set to start this Sunday (November 14) - with last ditch talks between the company and Unite the Union failing to resolve a dispute over bus driver pay.

Arriva Cymru drivers were reportedly offered a 29p an hour increase whilst Arriva workers over the border in the North West of England have been offered 39p.

In addition to this, the current pay differential between Welsh and North West Arriva drivers is £1.81 an hour.

The strike action is now expected to go ahead and will mean all Arriva bus services in North Wales will be suspended until December 19 - leaving people who rely on them facing fears over what modes of transport they'll be able to use.

One person, from the Buckley area, told the Leader: "If I am unable to get to my two jobs work for 5 weeks I’m scared I will lose my job.

"I have a two-year-old daughter at home and if I lose my job I will not be able to feed her or afford our rented home anymore and I’m terrified we will become homeless.

"I rely heavily on buses to get to work and do my shopping. We have already had nearly two years of isolation and now with this strike happening we will be isolated again as we can’t get anywhere."

She is calling on Arriva to settle the dispute as vulnerable people are going to be the ones largely affected by the strike action.

Another person added: "It's just a shame everyone else who uses the buses have to suffer - as they may lose their jobs if they can’t get to work."

One Buckley resident said they've worked out if the strike lasts for the full five weeks, it's going to cost him £1,500 in taxis - meaning it'll cost more to travel to work for five weeks than what he earns in a month.

People are being urged make their feelings known to Arriva, about how the strikes are going to affect them.

One person said: "To everyone complaining about this and the impact it will have: you can help cut the strike short.

"Please put those legitimate complaints to work. Don't blame the drivers, blame the company who have left them with no other legal option after making a reasonable request.

"Send letters and emails to Arriva letting them know the impact this is having on their reputation and encouraging them to give the pay rise. The pay rise for those on the English side of the border has been given freely."

Others are urging people who rely on Arriva buses to seek assistance from family and friends in getting transport sorted.

Arriva has said it made a "highly competitive" offer to its North Wales drivers, and will update people on the situation in the coming days.