Waste collection workers, including the serving Felixstowe, will vote on a new pay and conditions offer by East Suffolk Norse early next week, following a called off strike.

The results of the ballot at the waste management company, which is joint-owned by East Suffolk District Council and Norse, will be counted by 5pm next Wednesday.

This comes after a strike planned for next week was called off due to the new offer, deemed a "significant movement" by Unison branch secretary Jonathan Dunning.

Mr Dunning, secretary for the Norfolk branch of Unison, spoke on this matter because Norse is owned by Norfolk County Council. He said: "The strike was called for two reasons: we wanted a similar rate of pay to Norse workers in the south east and improved sick pay.

"The offer addresses both basic pay and sick pay for those who only got statutory sick pay. It also includes an extra day of leave for workers from next year.

"In my view, this is a significant movement on the part of Norse and East Suffolk Council, and we are grateful for that.

"We will only know after the ballot whether it is enough to satisfy our members."

East Suffolk Norse previously offered a £1,925 pay rise and an additional 75p an hour, but this was not deemed enough of an uplift on original pay of £9.90 an hour for loaders.

Workers were asking for £12 an hour minimum wage. The union pointed to the fact that Norse employees in Hampshire were already earning this.