A PLANNED Christmas strike by workers on Wightlink ferries between the Isle of Wight and the mainland has been called off.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day in a row over the sacking of a union representative.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "As a result of our sacked member securing a job elsewhere in the industry the planned strike action on Wightlink ferries is off."

More than 170 RMT members on the Portsmouth to Isle of Wight route had been ready to walk out.