POSTAL workers in Royston were on strike today as part of a national dispute over pay and working conditions. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) went on strike at 3am in protest at Royal Mail s decision to cut jobs and reduce pay for postal

POSTAL workers in Royston were on strike today as part of a national dispute over pay and working conditions.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) went on strike at 3am in protest at Royal Mail's decision to cut jobs and reduce pay for postal workers. They will remain on strike until 3am on Saturday.

CWU members have set up a picket line outside the Royal Mail sorting office in Grantham Close, Royston.

A spokesman said: "We've been here all morning, despite the rain, and will have representation here for the rest of the day. Of the 73 people who work at this office only one has crossed the picket line so far."

The spokesman added that they expect further strikes to take place in the near future.

A second group of postal workers were protesting outside the Royston post office in the High Street.

Talks to avert the strike broke down on Wednesday when postal workers rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer from Royal Mail.

The union's general secretary Dave Ward has claimed that Royal Mail was "intent on cutting services, cutting jobs, and cutting pay."

Royal Mail said it would do all it could to "mitigate the impact of strike action".