STRIKE action by workers at a Clayton-le-Moors engineering firm is over after staff returned to work as normal from today following further pay negotiations.

Thirty engineering staff at Allspeeds Ltd, Atlas Street, which specialises in hydraulic parts, had been staging a series of one-day walkouts on Mondays and Fridays.

It followed a breakdown in negotiations that started in March.

They were unhappy at being offered a rise of 2.5 per cent, equivalent to around £7.50 a week and had made a counter offer for £10, which was refused by the directors.

Works convenor Colin Massey and Amicus shop steward David Eccleston had a meeting with the directors last week to air grievances raised by workers. This was followed by another meeting on Tuesday between the arbitration service ACAS and the board.

An agreement has now been reached and managing director Mike Hollyhead confirmed workers were returning to normal working hours from today.

He said: "We have reached an agreement that is satisfactory and they are coming back to work, the issue has been resolved as far as both parties are concerned."

Mr Massey, said: "We reached an agreement yesterday afternoon after a four-hour meeting with the board after ACAS came in on Tuesday.

"We have been given a £10 rise from next Monday, which is across all rates, and we have been given £5 or 50 per cent of this in back pay from the first of April.

"This is more in line with what we wanted because we have a pretty low base rate and we wanted to get this base rate up.

"We recognise the company is in a difficult position and is a new company trying to find its head.

"The work force's expectation was, basically, a rise in the base rate and, due to the nature of the business, they have accepted a reasonable wage rise."

"We have put in place a formula for the start of negotiations next year."