Twenty three out of Scotland's 32 councils have agreed pay deals

The services union Unison voted to accept the offer, following talks with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla).

The deal means 23 out of 32 councils have now struck local pay deals.

Unison had been seeking a national settlement but then conceded that local deals may be necessary to improve conditions for members.

The dispute began in June 2003 after nursery nurses said they were unhappy with their pay and conditions.

At present nursery nurses earn about �13,000 a year but they want an extra �4,000 to reflect additional duties they say they have had to undertake.

Workers took part in a series of two and three-day stoppages before all-out strike action.

Two weeks ago, nursery nurses in five authority areas - including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Renfrewshire - rejected offers of �9.83 or less.

Unison spokesman Joe Di Paola warned that paying nursery nurses different rates could trigger resentment.