RAIL union bosses last night accused Arriva Trains Northern of misleading people over how many services they have been able to provide during a conductors' strike.

The company said 55 per cent of services were now running, despite 24-hour strikes called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over a pay and conditions dispute.

But RMT lead organiser for the North-East, Stan Herschel, said the company's figures were nonsense.

He said yesterday: "There is no way there are 50 per cent of the services running. I would be surprised if there are even ten per cent running.

"The support for this action is solid. I think it is irresponsible of the company to claim services are running when they are not.

"They are misleading the public. I am here at York station and it is quiet."

A spokeswoman for Arriva said the company was standing by its figure, but that included services which had been replaced by buses.

She said the number of trains running was 15 per cent up on the figure for the last strike in the series.

The dispute, by 670 conductors, comes at the same time as a 48-hour walkout by 300 ticket and retail staff.

The conductors' action is over a proposed three per cent pay rise, which the union says is unfair, as drivers were offered 18 per cent and other benefits.

Further strikes are planned for April 5 and 6 and May 3 and 4 by the conductors.

Darlington train station was deserted but for a few passengers awaiting services by other operators.

Bob Turner, 48, from the Denes area of Darlington, said: "I have enormous sympathy for the workers. It must be difficult for them to see drivers getting huge wage rises and yet there is not an equivalent increase given to conductors and guards."

Sally Shaw, 23, arrived on a train from York. She said: "It is amazing that people still use the trains. They are forever being cancelled, or are permanently late."

But Sean Cornwall, 34, of Darlington's West End, said: "This is ridiculous. I have got to catch a bus, which will probably take hours.