Southern Rail has made an improved pay offer to its strike-threatening drivers.

Hundreds of drivers were threatening to walk out in a row over pay after Southern offered a 2.65% pay increase. Union members wanted something substantially bigger.

Rail union ASLEF balloted its members on strike action, with 91.4% of those who turned out agreeing to walk out if Southern did not come back with an improved offer.

However ASLEF announced today that Southern has made an improved offer after "constructive talks" with management. The Argus understands the pay increase on offer is in the region of 3.2%.

A statement from ASLEF said: "Following constructive talks with Southern management, ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has received an improved pay offer from the train operator.

"The offer will be put to our membership on Southern as a referendum, with a recommendation for acceptance by ASLEF’s executive committee.

"Plans for a strike, put in place after members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action because of the company’s failure to make a satisfactory pay offer, have been suspended until this process is complete."

A spokesman from Southern Rail said: “The talks were constructive and we believe we have found a resolution which ASLEF will put to its members.”

Strike action would have caused considerable disruption to the rail network across Sussex.

A separate strike by Network Rail staff, set to take place over the Bank Holiday, was yesterday called off.