Planned strikes by health workers on Thursday in a row over pay have been suspended after a breakthrough in talks.

Extensive talks between union leaders and officials at the Health Department have led to fresh proposals which will now be put to workers.

Members of Unison, the GMB, the Royal College of Midwives and Unite were due to walk out for 12 hours in England and Northern Ireland and again next month in protest at the Government’s refusal to accept a recommended 1% wage rise for all NHS staff. Unison was also planning a four-weeks of work to rule action between the two strikes.

NHS staff in Kirklees and Calderdale were involved in both periods of industrial action in October and November last year.

Dozens of workers walked out at the hospitals and ambulance stations to join picket lines across the region.