Bradford's business leaders have hit back at the latest Arriva conductors' train strike.

Yesterday's strike was the 16th in a series over a long running pay dispute between Arriva and the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT).

The union has received a number of letters criticising the strikes as harmful to the area's economy.

The Bradford Chamber of Commerce & Industry says the region's railways are bad enough without strikes hampering services.

Mike Cartwright, policy officer for the Chamber, said: "We do feel that the strikes will achieve nothing for anyone, neither rail staff nor the public who use them."

He added: "Businesses are affected by the action, but in an indirect way."

Tony Cherry, regional policy chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said the dispute had gone on far too long. He said: "We are seeing more and more strikes - there is less money in the economy. It certainly has had an effect on our members."

And Rob Wilkinson, PR manager at Bradford-based Pure Design, said: "The strikes are clearly having an impact on business and we've witnessed it ourselves with business meetings put back or rearranged for later dates, as clients and potential clients get stuck on platforms across the north."

RMT members want increased wages for Arriva conductors. Arriva has offered four per cent.

Further strike dates have been set for August 23 and 24, September 21, October 19, November 9, December 14, December 24, and December 31.