A PLANNED bus drivers’ strike has been suspended following talks over pay.

Members of the Unite union had planned to strike for 24 hours today in an ongoing battle.

But drivers voted yesterday on an improved pay offer following talks with First Hampshire and Dorset.

Unite regional officer Bob Lanning said: “After constructive talks with the company, the management came up with a substantially improved offer.”

The 24-hour strike planned for Monday, February 10 could still go ahead depending on the outcome of the ballot, to be announced today.

Drivers took to the picket lines in Weymouth and Bridport during a strike in January but services remained largely unaffected as staff were drafted in from elsewhere.

The dispute centres on the pay of the drivers, currently on £8.30 an hour, compared with their regional colleagues, such as drivers at Yellow Buses in Bournemouth who earn more than £10 an hour. Drivers also want the time spent behind the wheel in one sitting reduced from 5.5 hours.