THE BUS strike is finally over. Drivers at First Manchester voted to accept the latest offer on pay and progression after two months of talks.

Mick Cavanagh, convenor for the Transport and General Workers' Union, said significant progress had been made towards getting fair pay and ensuring faster progression to the top rates of pay."

He said: "This has been a long dispute but one which has been supported by the drivers in overwhelming numbers.

"We will continue to work through the negotiating arrangements with the company to make progress. The T&G believes that offering decent pay and good opportunities to earn the top rates in a faster time will go a long way to recruiting bus drivers and keeping them.

"The general public have been very supportive and very understanding on the days of action we have held.

"I thank them for the support which was much appreciated and apologise that we had to take action which inconvenienced them."