There will be major disruption in hospitals today despite a 24-hour strike of junior doctors being called off.

The British Medical Association (BMA) agreed to suspend the walk-out today (December 1) following a last-minute breakthrough in talks.

Two more walk-outs planned for later this month have also been suspended.

The move was announced after an agreement was reached between the two sides following talks at conciliation service Acas.

The decision to suspend the strikes was announced only last night, just hours before the first walk-out was due to begin at 8am today.

Negotiations will now continue over the next few weeks.

The BMA has until January 13 to start industrial action if the next round of talks are not successful.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has argued that changes to junior doctors' contracts are needed because it is too hard for hospitals to roster urgent and emergency care evenly across seven days.

The BMA has argued that the proposed changes would have put patient safety at risk and mean doctors would lose out financially.