Post strike talks halted

Talks aimed at settling the post strike were halted, last night after leaders of the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail managers spent more than eight hours at the London headquarters of the conciliation service Acas to try to break the deadlocked dispute over pay and working practices.

The next strike is due to last for 36 hours from Friday. The Government has threatened to suspend the Royal Mail's monopoly on delivering letters from that date, unless the dispute is settled. A major sticking point is believed to concern second deliveries.

The Royal Mail said that both sides had agreed to reflect on their positions.