A three-day strike by bus drivers in Bradford in the run-up to Christmas was called off last night after agreement was reached over an improved pay offer.

The action by about 500 First drivers had been scheduled to start tomorrow.

A strike ballot was held by the Unite union after its members rejected an original pay offer of 3.6 per cent.

It led to several days of negotiations between First management and Unite representatives during which a new deal was thrashed out with an improved offer.

Union members agreed to accept the revised offer in a second ballot held yesterday.

Steve Clark, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Unite officials and the company have worked hard over the last three days to achieve an offer that might be acceptable to the membership and therefore avoid an industrial dispute.”

Ian Humphreys, managing director for First in Bradford, said: “We made an improved pay offer to the Union last week. They put this to their members and it has been accepted.

“We are pleased that industrial action has been cancelled and there will be no disruption to bus services in Bradford and nearby areas.

“Our customers can rest assured that all our services will be running as normal and that their journeys to work, to the shops or to Christmas parties will be as per normal at this time of year.”

A spokesman for Unite confirmed members had voted to accept the new pay offer and the proposed industrial action had been called off. He would not comment on what proportion of the membership had voted to accept the deal or what the specific terms and conditions of the offer were.

Workers had called for a pay hike in line with an inflation rate of 4.5 per cent as opposed to the 3.6 per cent offered.

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin @telegraphandargus.co.uk