Local government trade unions have accepted a pay offer that equates to a 10.5% increase for the lowest-paid workers.

UNISON and GMB have agreed to accept the offer, which is the highest offered in over a decade. The deal will see hundreds of thousands staff paid an extra £1,925 this year.

The offer has been rejected by Unite, who said it represents a cut in real terms.

The offer - which will be backdated to 1 April 2022 - includes an 4% increase to allowances and a one day increase to annual leave from 1 April 2023.

UNISON national secretary for local government, Mike Short, said: 'UNISON members voted clearly to accept this pay offer, and it will come as a welcome relief to many of our members – particularly those who are lower-paid – that it has been agreed before the holiday period.

'Our immediate priority, now, is to get the money into the pay packets of workers as soon as possible, to help deal with the rapidly rising cost of living and move into the next pay round.

'We know there is much more to do, as this pay settlement is still below inflation and we will be looking to submit a pay claim for 2023 as soon as practically possible, so the employers have no excuse for delaying making an offer, next year.'

The unions warned that the offer means the bottom three points on the pay scale will still fall below the Foundation Living Wage rate of £10.90.

A spokesperson for Local Government Employers said: 'The employers are pleased that agreement has been reached. Councils will be working hard to get the pay increase, and backpay, into employees’ salaries in time for Christmas.'