SOUTH Western Railway workers have announced more walkouts as part of a long-running dispute over the role of guards on trains.

Rail union RMT announced on Tuesday the next strike would run from 12.01am on October 23 until 11.59pm on October 27, followed by further walkouts on consecutive Saturdays from November 3 until November 24.

RMT workers have now held eight walkouts on SWR, including last weekend, in the dispute which centres on having "driver-only operations" on trains - services without guards.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "South Western Railway has stalled the talks process and has failed to provide any sort of offer that comes close to resolving this dispute which matches the widespread best practice in the industry, underpinned by the guard guarantee."

An SWR spokesman told the BBC: "The union has cynically chosen dates with the aim of targeting hard-working commuters, families enjoying the half-term holiday and sports fans, to cause as much misery as possible.

"We will be doing everything we can to minimise this disruption.

"Our plans mean more guards, not fewer, and we have guaranteed a guard with safety critical competencies to be rostered on all of our services."