The proposed strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling.

The judge, Mrs Justice Cox, ruled that the BA cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action.

The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead which will be welcome relief  for around one million passengers who will now be able to travel over the Christmas period.

Even if the union decide to hold a new ballot, industrial relations laws means that fresh industrial action can not be announced until well into the new year.