A strike by medical secretaries on Wearside is expected to be called off today, after five weeks, following an improved pay offer.

More than 130 secretaries are due to vote on whether to accept the offer from City Hospitals Sunderland Health Care Trust management.

In addition, in Health Secretary Alan Milburn's constituency, an improved pay offer has been accepted by medical secretaries from Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

The 85 South Durham medical secretaries suspended their strike action last week.

That now leaves only medical secretaries at the South Tyneside Health Care Trust still taking industrial action.

Sixty secretaries were on picket lines outside South Shields General Hospital yesterday as they resumed four days of strike action that began last Friday.

In deference to the Queen Mother's funeral the picket line was only manned from 8am to 10am.

Liz Twist, regional head of health for the union, Unison, said: "There has been an offer made which we are happy with and can recommend to our members in Sunderland."

She said the improved offer from the South Durham Trust had been backed overwhelmingly by secretaries from Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

The secretaries, who earn a maximum of £12,815, have surprised hospital management with their militancy.

Ms Twist said: "I hope that we will now have a very positive approach from other trusts as well."

Hundreds of medical secretaries at the Newcastle Hospitals Trust are expected to be balloted on strike action within a few weeks.