Last ditch effort to avert weekend strike by British Airways staff

FRANTIC last-ditch efforts were being made today to head off this weekend's strike by British Airways cabin crew.

The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh held face-to-face talks with Tony Woodley, joint leader of the Unite union, with time running out for breaking the deadlocked row over cost-cutting.

The two men met at the London headquarters of the TUC, whose general secretary Brendan Barber has been trying to broker a deal for the last few weeks.

Mr Woodley left the building shortly after 1.30pm to attend a meeting of cabin crew representatives at Unite's head office nearby.

The union leader said as he left the building: "We are meeting and we are talking."

The surprise last-minute talks offered a glimmer of hope that the three-day strike could still be averted.