A PLANNED strike by tanker drivers in the North-East was cancelled yesterday.

A day-long protest at the Conoco site at Jarrow, South Tyneside, yesterday, was expected to seriously disrupt Jet petrol stations.

Officials of the drivers' union, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), cancelled the protest after reaching a deal with management.

The dispute had been over protecting pay and conditions of drivers following plans to "contract out" fuel delivery to a distribution company.

Last week, the TGWU complained it had not been given the guarantees it sought for the future funding of pensions, profit- related pay and share option schemes for drivers.

A strike ballot among Conoco's 130 drivers found 102 in favour of strike action and eight against.

Yesterday, TGWU national secretary Danny Bryan hailed the peace settlement as a massive step forward for the drivers.

He said : "This settlement is a significant victory for common sense and justice."

The stoppage had been scheduled to start at 4am yesterday.

The drivers were being given details of the settlement at meetings yesterday and today.