THE first industrial dispute at Southampton's British American Tobacco factory in 22 years is over.

As reported in later editions of the Daily Echo yesterday, a majority of production workers belonging to the union Amicus voted to accept a revised pay deal.

BAT's final offer represents a 6.85 per cent pay rise over two years. It also agreed to improve productivity-related payments, worth up to a further one per cent.

The cigarette-making factory has 1,300 staff. Factory floor workers held a 24-hour strike at the Millbrook plant nine days ago after rejecting a slightly lower pay offer.