POSTAL strikes have been called off just hours before they were due to start.

Essex workers were due to join 24-hour walkouts tomorrow(Friday) and Monday, but a deal was thrashed out at the last minute to end the row over jobs, pay and pensions.

Dave Ward, the Communication Workers' Union’s deputy general secretary, said he was pleased with the agreement, which was accepted unanimously by the union's postal executive.

Mark Higson, Royal Mail managing director, said he was "delighted" for customers that a "sensible agreement" had been reached, which would allow deliveries to return to normal in the run-up to Christmas.

Members of the Communication Workers' Union have held a series of strikes in recent months which have caused huge delays to mail deliveries.