A planned strike by more than 1,000 bus drivers in Edinburgh and the Lothians has been called off.

The industrial action was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but management at Lothian buses have made a revised pay offer to drivers which will be put to a ballot.

The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) is recommending they accept the offer.

The drivers had decided on strike action after their demand for a 12% unconditional increase was described by the bus firm as unrealistic.

The company said drivers' demands were unrealistic

In a ballot of 1,331 drivers in the Edinburgh area earlier this month, 78% backed industrial action.

On Friday night, Lothian Buses and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) said drivers would be given a revised pay offer.

Drivers had planned to strike in the Scottish capital next Wednesday.

A joint statement from the Edinburgh-based bus firm and the TGWU said: "Following discussions between Lothian Buses management and TGWU a revised pay offer for drivers has been made.

Pay offer

"This will be put to a further ballot.

"The strike which had been scheduled to take place for Wednesday September 18 will now not take place and bus services will run normally."

A spokesman for the union refused to give any details of the new pay offer.

The union says the average driver earns just over �14,000 with fixed bonuses, not including overtime, for a 39-hour week.

In Lothian, they argue, the average earnings for last year were about �18,250, including an average of six hours overtime on top of the 39-hour week."