Tens of thousands of NHS workers in England, including ambulance crews, have voted to accept the Government’s 5.5% pay award.

The GMB union said 60% of its members backed the increase in a ballot.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: “GMB members working across the NHS and ambulance service in England have welcomed this first step towards restoring their pay to pre-austerity levels.

“The Pay Review Body recommendation was the first above-inflation pay rise for NHS workers in more than a decade.”