STRIKES at Sellafield have been put on hold as union members consider a new pay offer.

Mitie's Unite members who work on the soft services contract at Sellafield were due to strike from Sunday until July 8 following a row over pay.

The dispute is a result of Mitie staff including security guards, cleaners, catering, vending, laundry and environmental operatives rejecting the company’s pay offer with workers receiving £8.45 an hour.

But now Mitie has announced it wants to start paying staff the Foundation Living Wage.

A Mitie spokesman said: "Yesterday we announced that we have made the decision to move all employees working on our soft services contract at Sellafield to a minimum hourly rate of £9. This will take effect from 1 August 2019."

Mitie's Unite workers have been on strike on-and-off for over two months.

Ryan Armstrong, Unite's regional organiser, said: "This is a step in the right direction.

"The company came up with an offer and we suspended the action for the upcoming strikes to see if members want to accept it."

There are over 500 staff working on Mitie's soft services contract at Sellafield.

The new pay proposal would brings all hourly paid staff to the Real Living Wage.

Mitie said it aspires to pay the Real Living Wage wherever possible.