A deal has been agreed to give trade union rights to hundreds of mainly migrant workers employed by the country's biggest packer of cut flowers, it was announced today.

The GMB said the agreement with World Flowers would cover about 350 workers at sites in West Sussex, Basingstoke and Grantham.

GMB officer Adam Frazer said: "These flower packers, mainly Eastern European migrant workers, are the latest group of migrant workers joining GMB to secure their trade union rights at work.

"We are delighted to have secured a clear understanding with the company which will lead to full collective bargaining and union representation for the 350 employees."

The deal was the second signed by the GMB in recent weeks involving migrant workers following an agreement with car parks giant NCP in London.