The two rail unions planning strike action over the Bank Holiday have suspended the action after receiving a new pay offer from Network Rail.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the largest transport union, has suspended a planned rail strike at Network Rail over the bank holiday, the union's executive has decided.

The two unions were due to walk out for 24 hours from 5pm on Monday (May 25), spoiling half-term and Bank Holiday plans across the country, as well as causing commuter chaos for people returning to work after the long weekend the following morning, on Tuesday (May 26).

The strike was due to effect train companies including London Overground, and had led to some firms, including South West Trains, Southern and First Great Western, to cancel all services from Monday afternoon through to Tuesday (May 26).

TSSA leaders, and officials from the RMT have spent the last four days locked in talks with National Rail at the conciliation service ACAS.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA rail union, said in a statement: "Our negotiating team at ACAS has received a revised offer from Network Rail.

"As a result of this, they have suspended the planned industrial action, pending the outcome of a meeting of our workplace representatives next week."

TSSA had previously voted in favour of strike action, on May 15, claiming that its members were angry over a four-year pay off issued by Network Rail.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "I welcome the decision of the TSSA union to suspend their part in the threatened strike action next week and hope that a resolution between RMT and Network Rail can also be achieved."

A Network Rail spokesman said: "The TSSA has announced it is suspending its planned industrial action planned for next week.

"We welcome this news and the constructive discussions that we've been having since Monday with all our trade unions to avert a strike and reach an amicable solution."

The breakthrough came as workers, businesses and rail passengers were urged to prepare for the expected travel chaos if the strike, by thousands, went ahead.