Southern Railway drivers have voted by 4-1 to accept a deal to end their long-running dispute over driver-operated trains, the Aslef union announced.

Last month, Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink Railway and the union struck a deal that will see drivers receive a 28.5 per cent pay rise over the next five years.

The railway has seen disruptions and industrial action since April 2016.

Southern operates services in the Ashford and Tonbridge areas of Kent.

The announcement has been made as RMT union members at the company, as well as four other operators, are on strike in a dispute about the role of guards.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, said: "Our members on Southern, after careful consideration, and long and hard negotiations, have voted to accept this resolution to our industrial dispute with the company.

"We are pleased with a resolution which, we believe, works for the staff, and the company, and we now look forward to working with Southern Rail to restore good industrial relations and deliver the service passengers in the region deserve."