Efforts to avert strike at British airports

The British Airports Authority is to meet union leaders in talks aimed at averting January strikes at some of Britain's busiest airports.

A BAA spokeswoman said the talks will take place at an undisclosed location after negotiations last week failed to solve the dispute.

The row centres on BAA's decision to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees continued.

The strikes would hit all of BAA's airports; Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The Unite union has warned that all seven face closure if the strikes, which involve crucial staff including firefighters, and security and maintenance workers, go ahead as planned.

The first 24-hour strike is due to start at 6am next Monday, with another a week later and a two-day stoppage on 17 January