The US Senate has voted to pass a 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill , lifting the threat of a government shutdown.

It was passed by 56 votes to 40 in an unusual Saturday evening voting session.

It follows two months of closed-door negotiations to get enough senators to back the bill.

The measures will fund most government agencies through until September 2015.

It closes the latest chapter in a four year long battle between Democrats and Republicans over fiscal policy. However the tables will turn next year when Republicans take control of the Senate from Democrats.