A STRIKE by staff at two of London’s top tourist attractions planned for today has been called off at the last minute after bosses finally agreed to talks.

Members of the GMB union at Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, where “Beefeaters” guard the crown jewels, were poised to walk out over a pension dispute.

They agreed to suspend the industrial action when their employers, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), offered to enter negotiations.

However, another wave of strikes, planned for January 15 and 22, will go ahead if an acceptable offer is not made, the union said.

GMB regional organiser Michael Ainsley said the pension cuts were not “born out of necessity but out of opportunity as they see other employers doing the same thing without any scrutiny from government regarding future implications.”

He added: “Working people’s pensions are being eroded at an alarming rate.”

PCS members among the staff are also in dispute with HRP, and suspended strike action at the end of 2018 pending talks.