Thousands of postal workers were ending their unofficial strike today after unions and management struck a deal in the early hours.

An agreement was finally reached at 3.30am after Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton and Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers' Union, became involved in negotiations.

Details of the agreement were being sent to postmen and women across the country and the move prompted strikers to abandon their picket lines and go back to work.

The Royal Mail said postal workers were ending their unofficial action in a number of areas which had been hit by strikes.

A spokesman said workers in Coventry, Warrington, Hatfield, Chelmsford and part of London ended their walk-out and returned to work this morning.

Around 20,000 workers took part in unofficial action over the past two weeks, leading to a huge backlog of millions of letters and forcing the Royal Mail to seal thousands of post boxes in London.

The return to work is expected to spread throughout the day, although it will take at least a week to clear the backlog.

One striker in London said he did not expect a complete return to work until tomorrow morning because of the lateness of the deal.

He said there had been a "major climbdown" by the Royal Mail after the company pledged not to discipline anyone involved in the strikes.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott welcomed the deal and business leaders will breathe a sigh of relief that cheques, orders and other crucial items of mail will now be delivered.

Monday November 03, 2003