BUS bosses have admitted improvements could be made with their relationship with staff amid talks aimed at ending a strike threat.

Brighton and Hove Buses managing director Martin Harris has agreed there are areas in need of improvement following talks with unions.

Unite announced at the start of the month that members have voted in favour of strike action having previously complained of being "harassed" over overtime and staff shortages.

Mr Harris said ongoing talks between the union and management were "positive, constructive and conducted by both sides in a spirit of conciliation and open-mindedness".

The managing director said the "frank and helpful discussions" had allowed him to see issues in a fresh light and recognise areas where there was a need to improve.

He added: "I can see I have underestimated the strength of feeling of colleagues on some issues.

"Disagreement and conflict is not my style of management, but I admit it is not always easy to see the wood for the trees, understanding the impact that management decisions or approaches to problems can have on colleagues at the sharp end of running our services.

"So we will be engaging more meaningfully with all our employees, working closer with union representatives on building working relationships and engendering a deeper level of trust across all our colleagues."