AN ARBITRATION hearing to settle a bitter row between a private ambulance operator and its North Staffordshire workforce has been cancelled for a second time.

The case should have gone ahead in Birmingham but was called off because the barrister appointed to act as arbitrator pulled out following a family illness.

It is due to be rescheduled over the next few weeks. The previous arbitrator had had to withdraw because of a conflict of interest.

The row flared 20 months ago over the decision of the company, Parkwood Healthcare, to pay its 90 staff different rates for doing the same job.

The three-year contract to ferry patients to routine hospital appointments ends this summer and is currently being re-tendered.