A UNION has launched legal action against a company at the centre of a redundancy row sparked after its Gwent workforce was laid off three days before Christmas.

The TGWU is taking the action on behalf of 40 former 2Travel workers from the company's Cwmbran bus depot, in a bid to secure a redundancy settlement worth up to 120,000.

2Travel is still operating in Swansea and Llanelli, but is appealing against a decision by the Welsh traffic commissioner, David Dixon, to revoke its operating licence. Its Cwmbran depot shut down.

"We will fight this to the end - whatever it takes," Torfaen's TGWU organiser, Jeff Woods, said.

He added: "If it has to go through the courts, so be it. We are pressing for a protective award through our solicitors on the grounds there was no consultation before the workforce were handed redundancy notices."

The award would be three months' wages for each driver - about 3,000. Employees are also owed holiday pay.

"Many gave the company years of service, and they deserve better. We knew there were problems prior to this, and we wrote to management, asking them to talk to us - they chose not to," said Mr Woods.

"They have families and commitments, they were told nothing until this bombshell was dropped."

2Travel was expelled from the Alternative Investment Market of the Stock Exchange on December 30, and its operating licence was suspended from January 22 on financial grounds.

The company has lodged an appeal, to be heard on February 8. It is still eligible to operate until a final decision is made.

Father of two Andrew Jeremiah, from Albany Street, Newport, a former driver at 2Travel is still looking for full-time work.