A LONG-RUNNING industrial dispute ended yesterday when employees voted to return to work.

Workers at the Caterpillar plant, in Peterlee, County Durham, called off their action at a mass meeting in the face of increasingly hardline tactics from management.

Workers had been preparing for an all-out strike from today, but an emergency meeting was called after executives from the firm escorted 200 workers off the factory site on Friday and locked the gates behind them.

More than 400 workers packed into the town's leisure centre at 8am yesterday to decide their next move. But after being told they were looking into a "black hole", they voted overwhelmingly to return to work and accept a two-year pay freeze - instead of sticking to their one-year demand.

AEEU regional organiser Davey Hall said after the meeting: "It was an extremely difficult decision to arrive at. When the meeting started, members were in two minds as to whether there would be a strike or not.

"I told them if they went down the route of all-out strike action they would be venturing into a black hole.

"I think it was a common sense decision."

He added: "The company has driven a hard bargain. It was extremely difficult. They were the most difficult negotiations I have been involved in 15 years."

Worker Evan Davidson said: "We will be returning to work on Monday. It is just a shame that we had to come out Sunday morning and take a vote over something that should have been resolved."

Fellow worker Alfred Lindsey said: "We voted the way we did because at the end of the day it is not worth losing your job."

The decision brings to an end a six-week dispute over pay and conditions.

Mr Hall said the firm had agreed to enter into a working party to discuss a number of unresolved issues.

These, however, were not contentious and would not lead to further action.

Management has also been involved in a series of talks on working practices.

Caterpillar has consistently declined to comment.