Last-ditch talks aimed at averting a strike on Britain’s railways over Christmas are yet to start, RMT boss Mick Lynch has said, meaning that industrial action is set to go ahead over the festive period.

Speaking to reporters outside the RMT building in north-west London, Mr Lynch confirmed that industrial action would go ahead from Christmas Eve to the morning of December 27 after previous negotations with railway bosses hit an impasse.

Askedon Tuesday evening whether there had been any new talks, Mr Lynch said: “The strikes are going ahead because we haven't had no meetings so far, so we're hoping to go over to the Rail Delivery Group in the morning."

Two 48-hour walkouts will also take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week as part of a long-running dispute on pay, jobs and conditions. Further industrial action will also take place on 16-17 December, as well as 3-4 and 6-7 January.

Mr Lynch had argued that he did not want the strikes to go ahead over Christmas but that his members had been forced to do so, as the Government had not given train operators a proper mandate to negotiate on pay and conditions.

Britain is facing a winter of discontent with ambulance workers, nurses and Royal Mail staff also set to stage strikes throughout the month.

Schools minister Nick Gibb on Tuesday branded the RMT’s decision to strike “very disappointing”.

“They were offered a very good pay deal by the employers, eight per cent over two year which is in line with the pay deals happening outside the public sector, of between four and six per cent.

“The unions really should call off this strike, it’s inconveniencing people up and down the country in the run-up to Christmas.”

But deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accused the Government of taking a “militant” approach towards the union and presiding over a “complete shambles” on the railways.

Mr Lynch also announced that a new pay offer would be put to RMT members in a referendum with a recommendation to reject. The referendum will close at noon on Monday, December 12.

A separate offer by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) - backdating a 4% pay rise for 2022 with the same again next year - has already been rejected by the RMT.

Elsewhere, Downing Street confirmed that new laws will be introduced mandating a minimum level of service on the railways.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government was “pushing ahead with minimum service level legislation” regardless of whether unions abandoned strike plans next week.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that the RMT has chosen to take further damaging action instead of recognising this is a generous and fair deal that could have brought this dispute to an end,” he said.

“We believe the RMT need to take this offer seriously. We’ve been fair and reasonable in our approach. We’ve facilitated the sort of offer the RMT has been calling for, a fair pay rise with no compulsory redundancy.”

In separate developments, three unions representing ambulance workers and NHS staff announced that co-ordinated industrial action would take place across England and Wales on December 21 – just a day after nurses are set to stage industrial action.

The GMB said more than 10,000 ambulance workers across nine trusts in England and Wales will strike.

Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff will also walk out on December 28.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: “ealth Secretary Steve Barclay needs to listen and engage with us about pay. If he can’t talk to us about this most basic workforce issue, what on Earth is he Health Secretary for?

“The Government could stop this strike in a heartbeat – but they need to wake up and start negotiating on pay.”