The dispute over pay and conditions started last October

Sussex Ambulance NHS Trust workers returned to full working conditions at midnight.

The breakthrough came after their union, Unison, found two-thirds of those taking action were in favour of accepting a new offer on pay and conditions.

The deal put forward by Sussex Ambulance management includes an average pay rise of 4.2% and two extra days off each year for staff with more than ten years' service.

Work to rule

This was rejected by members of Unison on 21 March - but union officials decided on Monday to recommend that they accept the offer.

Sussex Ambulance management and union leaders had met twice last week in an attempt to bring the dispute, which started last October, to an end.

Industrial action began in February, when ambulance crews began working to rule.

This meant crews refused to base themselves anywhere but ambulance stations.

They also stopped recording call-out times and provided limited cover for neighbouring stations.

Management agreed to look at the ways crews work, specifically in connection to the way they base themselves at strategic points around the county rather than at ambulance stations.