BUS drivers will walk out for 24 hours in a dispute over pay this Friday (September 12).

The strike is being organised by the Unite union which expects Metrobus services to be brought to a standstill from 3am on the day.

Services affected include those which run in the boroughs of Bromley, Bexley and Lewisham.

Unite says more than 90 per cent of its members who work for Metrobus have voted in favour of a strike.

It is calling for a single rate of pay for all London bus drivers of £30,000 a year, based on a 38-hour week.

The union says that at the moment all the London bus companies operate with different pay structures and some drivers earn £6,000 less than others.

Unite regional official for Metrobus John Griffiths said: "Our members are determined to achieve a fair settlement and unless the company makes a realistic pay offer, strike action will continue and cause significant disruption to bus services across south, west and central London."

Metrobus says it does not know how many of its drivers will report for work on Friday.

Its managing director Alan Eatwell said: "We are sad that our pay talks have come to this, particularly as we have proposed a four per cent no strings, pay increase, which we believe to be a good offer in the present economic climate.

"In an effort to exploit every possible opportunity to resolve our differences and to prevent a strike from happening, we have asked the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to conciliate and if necessary arbitrate when we would be bound by their decision."

Routes affected by Friday's strike

B14 - Bexleyheath to OrpingtonR1 - Green Street Green to St Paul's CrayR2 - Biggin Hill Valley to Petts WoodR3 - Locksbottom to Chelsfield VillageR4 - Locksbottom to Paul's Cray HillR5 - Orpington to Orpington via Pratts Bottom, Knockholt and CudhamR6 - Orpington to St Mary Cray StationR7 - Orpington to BickleyR8 - Orpington to Biggin HillR9 - Orpington to Ramsden EstateR11 - Green Street Green to Sidcup119 - Bromley to Purley Way138 - Bromley to Coney Hall146 - Bromley to Downe161 - Chislehurst to North Greenwich181 - Lewisham to Grove Park246 - Bromley to Westerham261 - Locksbottom to Lewisham284 - Lewisham to Grove Park320 - Bromley to Biggin Hill Valley336 - Locksbottom to Catford352 - Bromley to Lower Sydenham353 - Ramsden to Addington354 - Bromley to Penge356 - Shirley to Upper Sydenham358 - Orpington to Crystal Palace367 - Bromley to Croydon464 - Tatsfield to New Addington via Biggin Hill654 - Selsdon to RamsdenClick here for travel news and local information.