EMERGENCY talks have failed to stop a second all-out bus strike hitting Fareham and Gosport today.

Union leaders and management held eight hours of meetings yesterday to try to break the pay deadlock that forced buses off the road on Friday.

But commuters face another day of traffic misery after First Provincial bosses and representatives of the Transport and General Workers and Rail, Maritime and Transport unions could not reach an agreement.

Marc Reddy, commercial director at First Provincial, said: "There was a meeting yesterday and some useful exchange of dialogue. There is another meeting this week to further expand on that.

"No buses will run today. We are disappointed that again we are unable to provide a service to the general public."

T&GWU spokesman John Biddle said: "There is nothing on the table to bring to members and say, 'Accept this deal'."

Alan Overy, a spokesman for the RMT, added: "It was a constructive meeting but still some way short of our aims."

Around 15 staff were on the picket line this morning outside First Provincial's depot in Gosport Road, Fareham.

They started gathering at 4am and by 7.30am no drivers had breached the picket line.

Around 370 drivers, inspectors and garage staff are involved in the industrial action.

They have rejected a management offer to increase their pay by 18p an hour and are demanding an extra 79p an hour to bring them into line with colleagues in Southampton.

Two more one-day walk-outs are planned for later in the month if further talks between the parties fail to reach any resolution.

Meanwhile council chiefs have urged First Provincial to pull out all the stops to avert further strike action.

Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said people in the borough had suffered enough with last month's postal strikes.

He said: "I really think First Provincial should get its house in order. It is again the public who are suffering and the residents of Fareham have had their fair share of strike misery. I would urge both sides to sit down and sort this out."

Peter Edgar, leader of Gosport council, also condemned the strikes.

He said: "Unfortunately there seems to be a strike culture in the area at the moment that simply punishes the public."

Angry travellers waiting to catch the Gosport ferry hit out at the striking bus staff.

Cynthia Barrett, 55, of Brewers Lane, Gosport, said: "My husband is going to have to pick me up when I get back this evening. It is OK over in Portsmouth where the Stagecoach buses run but there's nothing running here."

Lillian Redman, of Beverly Close, Gosport, said: "It is not fair on the elderly people of Gosport. They cannot go anywhere."

Daine Evans, 13, of Palmyra Road, Gosport, was travelling to Portsmouth for a gymnastics training session.

He said: "My dad just dropped me off and I am going to have to catch a taxi on the other side. It's a real hassle."