Offshore workers have voted to end an industrial dispute which led to the first North Sea strikes in a generation.

Hundreds of Wood Group employees participated in strikes aboard seven Shell platforms earlier this year, the first of their kind for 28 years.

Members of the RMT and Unite unions were unhappy about pay cuts and the switch to an unpopular three-week work cycle.

On Thursday, they voted to accept a fresh deal with Wood Group and brought an end to the dispute.

Unite regional officer John Boland said: "Our negotiations with Wood Group allowed us to reduce the levels of cuts being proposed to our members' wages and terms and conditions.

"We were able to secure improvements to competency payments and the introduction of a flexibility payment. Threats to life insurance, health care and sick pay have been removed.

"As ever, our members have shown themselves willing to be open to meaningful negotiations and are not blind to the challenges facing the offshore sector in these difficult times - but they have also shown they will not be treated unfairly."

Paul Goodfellow, Shell's upstream vice president for the UK and Ireland, said: "Shell is pleased with this development and commends Wood Group, Unite and the RMT in reaching a resolution.

"We have been clear that change was essential to ensure that the UK North Sea remains competitive.

"This agreement is a positive step towards addressing the challenge of operating in a low oil price environment.

"Shell looks forward to working with Wood Group, Unite and the RMT to ensure that the North Sea has a strong and sustainable future."