A BITTER dispute over the role of conductors on trains has threatened to disrupt this year's Grand National.

Thousands of people flocking to Aintree racecourse face travel misery as RMT members for Southern, Merseyrail and Arriva Trains North announced they will walk out for 24 hours on Saturday April 8.

Talks between rail bosses and the union have broken down after an agreement could not be reached on the future role of guards on trains.

The row stems from plans to introduce driver-only trains by 2020. The RMT have questioned the safety of only having one member of staff on board at any one time.

General secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash said: "RMT recognises the severe impact that the action will have on Grand National Day but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union on the critical issue of safe rail operation and we ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take this high-profile action to force the company back to the negotiating table."

Jan Chaudhrey, managing director of Merseyrail criticised the timing of the latest strike, saying the RMT had "sunk to a new low" by striking during British horse racing's top event.

He said: "Damaging the company and its passengers is one thing, but damaging the whole of the Liverpool city region on one of its proudest and most important days of the year is impossible to understand."