A BBC pledge to find alternatives to nearly 4,000 compulsory redundancies could avert further strikes in the ongoing dispute between the corporation and three unions.

The BBC has said it will put the compulsory job losses on hold for one year while alternatives such as voluntary redundancies and talks within specific BBC divisions are explored.

BECTU will ballot its members on whether to approve the BBC's offer next week. The NUJ will decide its position next week too.

Luke Crawley of BECTU described the dispute as "suspended," and noted that if compulsory redundancies were once again on the agenda then strike action "could be re-started within 7 days."