Postal workers across Britain walked out on strike at noon today in an escalation of a dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.
Members of the Communication Workers Union mounted picket lines outside mail centres at the start of a 48-hour walkout, which will be followed by another two-day stoppage from Monday.
A rolling programme of strikes will start on October 15th and will continue every week until the dispute is resolved, union leaders have warned.
Firms were warned that the strikes mean there will be no deliveries until next Thursday, and it is estimated that the row will cost industry millions of pounds.
Postal workers have staged four national strikes and other forms of industrial action since the summer after rejecting a 2.5 per cent pay offer and the Royal Mail's modernisation plans, which the union claimed would cost 40,000 jobs.
The strike went ahead despite last-ditch talks between the union and Royal Mail.
The government refused to become involved in the dispute, saying it should be resolved by the union and the management.