Oil tanker drivers had threatened to walk out

Seventy-four members of the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) said BP gave them an "inferior product" when they moved from logistics firm Exel.

They said the move to money purchase schemes from final salary schemes had reduced the value of their pensions.

On Monday the union said they would now join the BP Gas final salary plan.

A strike would have hit BP depots across the country including Stanlow on Merseyside, Grangemouth in Scotland, Hamble in Hampshire, Kingsbury in the West Midlands and Coryton in Essex.

"This is undoubtedly very good news for our members and has come after some pretty hard talking on both sides," said Ron Webb, T&G national secretary for transport.

"It is the right decision and our drivers have accepted it with a very good grace."