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Workers in a pay dispute at the Dounreay nuclear site have suspended planned strike action to consider a new deal.

Members of Unite and GMB unions rejected previous offers from the site's operator, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS).

Dounreay, near Thurso, is a former experimental nuclear power facility and is now in the process of being decommissioned and demolished.

The dispute involves craft technicians, general operators, engineers, maintenance fitters and safety advisors.

The unions' members previously rejected a pay offer which amounted to a one-off £500 payment on top of a basic 4.5% increase.

Unite said an overtime ban and an end to working voluntary appointments would continue during the ballot on the latest deal.

It said if the new offer was rejected fresh strike action would be announced.

Industrial officer Marc Jackson said: "A new pay offer will be put to the workers to vote on and it is ultimately up to them.

"It has only materialised due to the strength and resolve of our members to get a fair pay deal.”