A Sellafield union say its workers' fight for a senior health and safety shop steward has been won. 

A statement by Unite says it has secured a "ground-breaking" deal to end the dispute.

It claims Sellafield Ltd and the 14-strong group of on-site sub-contractor companies have dropped their refusal to facilitate a senior shop steward to deal with health and safety, workplace welfare and training issues.

The agreement, which comes after a campaign of industrial action, including walkouts and action short of a strike, also sees the formation of a health and safety committee spanning all contractors on the site.

Mick Whitley, Unite regional secretary for the north west, said: "This victory for common sense would not have been achieved without the resolve of our members who stood shoulder to shoulder to get a better deal on health and safety.

"A healthy workplace is a more productive workplace.

"The creation of a new senior shop steward on maximum facility time at Sellafield will help make the site safer, reduce accidents and enable workforce issues to be dealt with speedily.

"It's a win-win for everyone involved in the decommissioning and renewal project at Sellafield and once again underlines the importance of trade unions in making the workplace a safer more productive place."