A business award finalist has been "knocked for six" by the postal strikes.

Liz Leatherdale, who owns and runs Colchester Classics, a CD mail order service, said the latest Royal Mail strikes had adversely affected every part of running her business and lost her customers.

After gaining a place as a finalist in the new company section of the Gazette's Colchester District Business Awards, the strikes made getting orders and payments, and sending CDs and receipts, very difficult.