UNION chiefs have called off threatened strike action at the Morrisons supermarket depot in Aylesford.

Three days of industrial action by up to 1,000 workers had been due to start on Friday.

But the T&GWU and GMB lifted the threat to allow talks to continue with Morrisons' negotiators about the future of Aylesford, and two other depots in Bristol and Warrington.

Across the three sites, around 2,500 jobs are at risk.

GMB regional organiser Jeff Goswell said Morrisons had agreed to union demands for national joint bargaining power.

He added: "They have given GMB a package which provides for enhanced redundancy and also some measures to relocate jobs and minimise job losses."

Morrisons welcomed the decision and said talks would continue about the future of the distribution network.

In a statement, the company said: "Discussions with the T&GWU and GMB covering the unions’ desire for Joint National Bargaining and the company’s need to reduce distribution capacity, have reached a conclusion acceptable to both parties.

"As a result, the unions have withdrawn their threat of strike and other industrial action and the company will now progress matters relevant to the reshaping of our distribution network to provide an efficient and cost effective service to our stores."

A spokesman confirmed that no final decision about the future of the Aylesford depot had been made, although admitted that an internal review had listed closure as an option and the company had over-capacity in distribution.