Eight bus drivers who were made redundant by Stagecoach Western Buses earlier this year yesterday won the right to return to their jobs.

The drivers were set to fight their case at an industrial tribunal. But a settlement was reached after several hours of negotiations and six of the men will go back to work within the next couple of weeks.

The other two, Mr Dougie Kerr and Mr Ralph Shaw, have found new jobs and have decided not to return to Western Buses.

Union bosses now plan to fight for compensation to cover the period the men were out of work.

The men refused to comment, saying a gagging order had been imposed under the deal. But Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) Scottish organiser Phil McGarry hailed yesterday's settlement as a ''victory for justice and common sense''.

''The RMT members in this case have been completely vindicated and we are now negotiating for financial compensation,'' he said.

He claimed the eight were made redundant because they refused to sign new personal contracts which would have made them worse off.

Mr Graeme Torrance, managing director of Western Buses, said: ''Compromises have been made on both sides.

''We are pleased the drivers are coming back to us, there are vacancies now which were not there at the time they left.''

The six men returning to work are Mr Joe Cannon, Mr Derrick Hannon, Mr Jim McCutcheon, Mr Barry Ritchie, Mr Jim McEwan and Mr Sandy McPherson.