Planned strikes by firefighters at Sellafield have been called off.

Firefighters were set to stage the 24-hour walk-outs at the nuclear complex on Monday and a further one on July 31.

The firefighters represented by the GMB union were poised to take industrial action over pay.

A statement from Sellafield Limited said: “Representatives from the Sellafield Ltd management team held further discussions with the GMB this morning, in relation to the firefighters’ dispute.

“The talks were positive, and as a result we have been able to make significant progress towards finding a resolution.

“The GMB are going back to ballot the firefighters and have suspended the strike action.

“This means that the site will continue to operate as normal on Monday.”

The GMB had previously rejected pay offers by Sellafield Limited, because, the union said it would still leave firefighters’ pay nearly five per cent below the combined increase in the inflation rate since 2009.

The union says for years, the firefighters have been working beyond their job role and grade in important safety and emergency work such as carrying out paramedic work whilst their pay had fallen behind inflation.

Chris Jukes, of the GMB, said: “Last-ditch talks with Sellafield Ltd led to a significantly improved offer being tabled by the company which will now be put to GMB members.

“The planned strike action has therefore been postponed.”