London: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged British Airways (BA) management and unions to hold fresh talks, warning of the huge disruption to the public and damage to the company if the 12-day strike goes ahead. BA had offered to meet union leaders at 3pm Wednesday to hold last-ditch talks to avoid a crippling strike over the Christmas period.

Both sides in the dispute indicated yesterday that they are prepared to negotiate, as concern over the 12-day disruption continued to escalate. BA is also scheduled to ask the high court to rule on the legality of Monday's vote.

The offer of talks came after Brown urged BA management and unions to meet again. He warned that there will be huge disruption to the public and damage to the company if the 12-day strike goes ahead.

The prime minister admitted he was "very worried" by the prospect of industrial action. Brown, who was speaking from the climate summit in Copenhagen, said he discussed the situation with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis at 6am Wedesday, and warned that BA and the unions must both also consider damage that the airline would suffer if they cannot reach a resolution.

"We will do everything we can to bring the sides together, we will do everything we can to make sure that these disputes are resolved," said Brown in a TV interview.

"Equally, at the same time, the trade unions and the management have a responsibility to look outwards, and not just look inwards, and I think they have got to remember that they are serving the public."

At this stage, though, it does not appear that the government plans to intervene in the dispute.

Theresa May, the Conservative's shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, also warned that a strike could have very severe consequences. "The long-term future of British Airways is what everyone should be worried about. The people who are threatening this strike need to think very carefully about the effect that a strike of this magnitude would have on BA, and jobs at BA," May added.

BA would have asked the high court later yesterday to overturn the results of the strike ballot, arguing that hundreds of votes were wrongly cast by staff who have taken voluntary redundancy from the airline. Unite has reportedly offered to reopen talks with BA.

The prospect of a 12-day strike affecting around one million passengers has caused widespread concern, leaving passengers in limbo over their Christmas travel plans.