SCOTLAND faces festive rail strikes after talks between ScotRail and trades union officials broke down.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) plan to take action on December 22 and Christmas Eve.

The action is in support of a ticket examiner who was sacked by ScotRail.

ScotRail called the strike a "clear attack" on commuters, but insisted that most trains would still run.

A company spokesman said: "We will get people home this Christmas."

RMT general secretary Bob Crow accused ScotRail of leading the union "up the garden path" during talks.