Planned strike action by Wells bus drivers has been called off after First West of England put a new pay deal on the table.

Unite the Union confirmed the walkout, which was due to start on Thursday (4 September), has been suspended while members vote on the latest offer from the company.

The strike would have affected drivers based at the Wells Badgerline depot, along with those in Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol Marlborough Street. Around 400 drivers were set to walk out for five days after rejecting an earlier pay proposal.

Unite regional officer Ken Fish said: "Following an improved offer from the employer, Unite has suspended industrial action due to take place later this week so workers can be balloted on this."

The vote is expected to take place over the coming days. Until then, services in and around Wells are due to run as normal.

A separate strike involving 600 drivers at Bristol's Lawrence Hill and Hengrove depots has also been paused to allow a ballot on a similar offer.