The threat of strike action at six airports this month has been lifted as the Unite union and airports' operator BAA have agreed a deal.

The strike would have occurred over the August Bank Holiday and occurred at Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton after engineers and other ground staff rejected a pay increase of 1.5%.

Agreement to end the strike threat came after nine hours of talks, but no details of the new offer have been released.

"We are very pleased to be able to reassure the travelling public that we, for our side, have worked tirelessly to achieve a settlement," said Unite's National Secretary Brendan Gold.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond welcomed the settlement and said a strike over the August Bank Holiday period "would have been hugely damaging to the country".

It is expected that details of the new pay deal will be announced on Tuesday.