Planned strike action by more than 130 senior rail conductors at the new East Midlands franchise on the first three Saturdays in May has been suspended, it was announced today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union said the action was called off to allow fresh talks aimed at resolving a row over the deployment of managers as guards on Sundays.

The RMT general secretary, Bob Crow, said: "This dispute could be easily resolved if the company enters into meaningful talks. However, if no agreement is reached we still have a mandate to take strike action if necessary."