WORKERS at Greater Anglia have accepted an offer to end the guards' dispute in an "important breakthrough" in the long-running row over driver-only trains.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) voted by nine to one with an 80 per cent turnout in favour of a deal the union says "enshrines" the guarantee of a guard on trains.

The union said the deal "calls a halt" to extending driver-only operation of trains and is effective immediately.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "I want to pay tribute to RMT members on Greater Anglia whose long and determined struggle over the core issue of a railway that's safe, secure and accessible for all has been the foundation of the agreement that they have approved in the referendum ballot today.

"It's the resilience of RMT members over almost a year that has secured the guard guarantee on Greater Anglia trains that we've been seeking.

"If we can reach a negotiated settlement on Greater Anglia that has safety, security and access at its core then there's no reason why we can't achieve the same on South Western Railway if the company is prepared to get down to business."

The union held 12 strikes against Greater Anglia in the past year.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director said: “We’re pleased we've reached agreement with the RMT regarding our conductors and the new trains.”