Members of a union at Diageo's distilleries have accepted a pay deal after suspending potential strike action.

Members of Unite and GMB across Scotland's distilleries and bottling plants had been scheduled to stop working for 10 days in a series of rolling strikes last month.

It would have seen almost two-thirds of all Diageo workers walk out, according to representatives of the unions, with around 500 people represented by Unite.

Unite members will now receive 3% for the 2019 annual pay award, backdated to July, with the 2020 award being based on the Retail Price Index figure for May next year.

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Bob MacGregor, Unite regional industrial officer, said "Unite is pleased to announce that following a ballot of our membership at all Diageo's distilleries and bottling plants, the revised pay offer has been accepted.

"The offer is a two-year commitment which ensures our members' pay does not fall below the cost of living.

"This is the least the workers deserve because it's their hard work and dedication which has driven Diageo towards record profits.

"Unite hopes this agreement can help press the reset button on our relationship with Diageo and it ensures the company pays its workforce what it deserves in the future, rather than having to be dragged into doing so."

The ballot for GMB members remains open until next week.

Diageo, which owns Johnnie Walker whisky, Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin, made £4.2 billion in pre-tax profits in the last year, with union representatives saying "performances have improved by every indicator".

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A spokesman for Diageo said: "We are pleased that Unite union members have accepted our pay deal.

"It is a good and strong offer that ensures our employees receive an increase on their pay while maintaining the competitiveness of our operations.

"This enables us to move forward to progress the other aspects of the two-year agreement which will shape the future of our employee relations."

Drugmaker AstraZeneca has seen its Fasenra asthma treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company has revealed.

The approval of the auto-injection pen comes less than a week after the FDA refused to grant approval to another one of the company's drugs aimed at treating smoker's lung.

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Fasenra is already approved in the EU and recorded sales of $297 million (£242 million) last year.

The FDA granted expedited approval for the drug in August, speeding up its development to treat eosinophilic oesophagitis, an allergic inflammation of the oesophagus.

The drug belongs to a class of medicines called monoclonal antibodies and binds to certain receptors on blood cells and boosts the body's natural response to induce programmed cell death.

Shares in AstraZeneca rose 105p to 7,045p on the back of the news.

Mecca bingo owner Rank Group has completed its £115 million acquisition of online gaming business Stride.

Shares in Stride have now been suspended after the FTSE 250 firm, which also owns Grosvenor casinos, secured the 151p per share deal.

Rank has made the acquisition as it looks to boost its presence in the UK's thriving online gaming market.

In May, shareholders at Stride, whose brands include Regal Wins and Magical Vegas, voted in support of the deal.

John O'Reilly, chief executive of Rank, said: "Our focus now turns to ensuring we successfully integrate Stride into Rank and realise the potential of our new enlarged digital business."

Shares in Rank were flat at 195p following the announcement.