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Strikes which could have seen almost 150 workers at a Greater Manchester factory, which makes plastic bottles for the likes of Coca-Cola and Britvic, have been called off after a new pay deal was accepted.

The action by Unite members at Alpla º£½ÇÊÓƵ's Wigan site will now no longer go ahead following the improved pay offer which is worth at least 6%.

The action was first threated towards the start of September after the union branded the then pay offer "insulting".

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is an excellent result for our members at Alpla º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s Golbourne factory and demonstrates that when union members unite and fight for a better deal they can win.

"It is another example of how Unite is winning to secure better jobs, pay and conditions for its members."

The deal will see staff on under £25,000 a year receive a 4% pay rise backdated to January, while staff on more than £25,000 will receive a rise of 3%, also backdated to January. From 2022, all staff will receive a pay rise of 3.25%.

Workers will also benefit from a 1% increase on employers’ pension contributions and improvements to overtime terms.