The possibility of summer strikes at the UK's busiest airports may have been averted by an improved pay offer to baggage handlers and check-in staff.

The workers had already rejected two pay offers from their employer, Aviance.

Members of the GMB union had voted in favour of industrial action and were planning a series of one-day strikes later this month.

But on Friday, management offered a "substantially improved" pay offer, which the GMB have advised their members to accept.

Gatwick would have been affected

Staff, many of whom work at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, will now be balloted on the improved offer, with the result expected in about 10 days.

Aviance had originally come up with a 1.5% pay offer and a lump sum payment of �150.

This was later increased to 1.8% and �250, but workers rejected this by two to one in a ballot result announced on Friday morning. A further offer was then made.

The workers deal with check-in and baggage handling for leading airlines including Virgin Atlantic, BMI, Monarch and Singapore Airlines.

Industrial action would not only have hit Heathrow and Gatwick travellers but also holidaymakers using Manchester, Stansted and Leeds-Bradford airports.