THE threat of industrial action has been lifted from Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant.

By a narrow majority, members of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) at the North Road factory voted to accept the latest pay deal from management.

The two-year agreement will give them 3% extra in the first year - backdated to last September - and a rise up to the level of inflation from the autumn.

The inflation-matching deal was accepted by 1,029 votes to 1,004 on Thursday.

This was only the latest in a series of votes TGWU members had taken part in on the issue. Opposed to switching to monthly pay, pay cuts for contractors and seeing contracts for temporary work-ers cut from six months to three, they originally voted for industrial action short of strike.

But another vote taken at the end of a 6am meeting in the factory on Tuesday ended in a 50/50 deadlock.

Shop stewards felt the fairest thing to do was to ballot the entire membership at the plant again.

TGWU regional officer Mick Whitley is quoted as saying: 'This is the best deal that could be achieved by negotiation.'

General Motors spokesman David Crundwell said: 'We are extremely pleased that we have reached a settlement that will allow us to go on building the fantastic new five-door Astra at Ellesmere Port and other plants in Europe.' Mr Crundwell said bosses would not receive the results of another ballot on the deal by employees in the AEEU trade union until Monday.

Vauxhall owner General Motors employs 3,900 work-ers in its main factory in Ellesmere Port, which built about 148,000 vehicles last year, and at a site near Luton.

In October 120 casual jobs at the Port plant were cut.

Buyers made the new Astra Britain's best-selling car in February - despite the launch of some high-profile rivals. Official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that 4,703 Astras found new homes last month, giving Vauxhall 6% of the market.