A TRADE union says its members have "won" a pay dispute with bus firm Stagecoach after reaching an agreement on a new deal.

Members of the Unite union have been holding 17 days of strike action at Stagecoach depots in Blackwood, Brynmawr and Cwmbran as part of their demands for higher pay.

The effects of the dispute reached the Senedd, where a Welsh Government deputy minister said he was hoping for a speedy resolution to the talks.

This afternoon, Unite Wales shared a statement on social media, that read: "After 17 days of strike action, our members at Stagecoach have won their dispute, achieving £10.50ph [per hour] back dated to April, protecting T&Cs and fighting off cuts to sick pay.

"We're immensely proud of our members and this huge win.

"All bus workers must now Unite for the future."

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Stagecoach confirmed a pay deal had been agreed, bringing an end to the strike action.

The bus firm said the deal had been struck "through flexibility on both sides".

Nigel Winter, managing director for Stagecoach South Wales, said: “We’re very proud of our team, who do a fantastic job in delivering vital transport connections for local people.

“We said right from the start that we were committed to getting a settlement to reflect the important role our people play and that also protects the long-term sustainability of the bus network for our customers and communities in South Wales.

"We’re pleased that through flexibility on both sides, and improvements in productivity, we have reached an agreement that achieves these aims through until April 2023 and that will bring an end to any further strike action.”