YORK's bus strike is over after a pay deal was finally agreed by drivers at First.

The drivers voted to accept a revised pay offer from management and bring an end to the industrial action which had halted most services in the city.

A total of 121 drivers voted in favour of the new two-year offer in a secret ballot yesterday, with 71 rejecting First's pay proposals.

The vote result delighted First commercial director Peter Edwards. He said: "It will mean the end of the strikes and allow everything to get back to normal."

Metro services had been halted during five days of action by drivers, with only contracted Park&Ride services running. Tomorrow's strike and a series of other walkouts scheduled for the rest of this month have been cancelled.

The new deal, which will come into operation in November, will see drivers paid £7.20 an hour for a reduced 37-hour week.

Drivers had been asking for £8 an hour, claiming that would bring them in line with drivers elsewhere.

Steve Clark, York negotiator for the Transport & General Workers' Union (TGWU), said: "The latest offer has been accepted reluctantly."

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, September 09, 2003