An end to bus strikes could be in sight after bosses at First Bus put forward a new pay offer.

First Manchester has made an offer of a pay increase to £15 per hour backdated to April and a further rise to £15.60 from October.

This means drivers would get an 11 per cent increase backdated, followed by a 15.6 per cent increase from October.

However, the deal still comes in below what the drivers are asking for- £16 per hour.

Currently, drivers earn £13.50 per hour.

Speaking on the picket line, drivers, represented by represented by union Unite, have told The Oldham Times they are having to work more hours as they "can’t afford to do a flat week".

The picket lines have left much of Oldham without bus service, with First the main operator in the borough.

Disruption has been felt through much of July and August, with drivers set to have been on picket lines for 22 days across the two months.

Drivers have also been offered extra incentives to "break" the strike by bosses, with an additional £75 per day on offer to those who don’t strike.

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@theoldhamtimes Oldham's First bus drivers are back on strike today. We went down to the picket on July 7 to ask why they were striking. #strike #costofliving #picketline ♬ original sound - The Oldham Times

Rob Hughes, operations director of First Manchester, said: “We have made an improvement to our offer in an attempt to end this dispute and have asked Unite to ballot our drivers.

“This clearly answers the hourly pay rate request made by Unite and is well ahead of inflation.

"It will make our drivers some of the best-paid in Greater Manchester together with additional employment benefits.

“We have always approached pay talks with an open mind to try to resolve this dispute and move forward, allowing us to focus on the transition period to franchising and providing the people of Oldham with a great bus service.

“Continued industrial action is damaging to everyone and causes yet more severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments.”

In response, a Unite spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have received a further pay offer from First Manchester and will now be consulting with our members."

This article was updated to remove the claim that £13.50 per hour is the lowest pay in the region. Rosso bus advertises rates of £12 per hour.