A settlement secured on behalf of hundreds of Falkirk Council workers demanding equal pay has been hailed as a victory by unions.

Lawyers at HBJ Gately have reportedly reached a successful agreement with Falkirk Council on a no win, no fee basis.

The unions are now demanding nothing less for hundreds more workers who they represent.

Gray Allan, of Unison, said its negotiations with the local authority could soon be over as a result of this decision.

He said: "Our lawyers are in negotiation with the council to make sure our members don't settle for any less than what the 'no win no fee' employees have been offered.

"It would be completely unfair to expect our members to do otherwise."

Unison provides free legal advice and support through a solicitor, as do other unions including GMB and Unite.

Mr Allan added: "It has been a long, long road and I am sure some of our members have passed away waiting. This has been ongoing since 2006 and we knew it would take years to resolve.

"There is a burning sense of justice it has taken so long to get here. Hopefully now we will get something sorted soon.

"These claims can only be brought on the basis of gender or other discrimination strands. It is perfectly legal to pay different amounts to employees, although it is unfair, but it is not acceptable to pay a woman less than a man to do the same job."

He said enforcing equal pay was complicated by policies of secretive pay at some private companies and was currently "very much a public-sector issue".

Meetings of Falkirk Council on this issue are held in private and a spokesman said: "We are still in ongoing discussions regarding equal pay."

Claims on the basis of equal pay law have been in council across Scotland.