MP Claire Ward has promised to intervene in the ongoing postal strikes by writing to Industry Minister Lord Mandleson.

Following a meeting with local union members, Ms Ward says she will put pressure on the Government to bring an end to the dispute, now in its second week.

She said: “I am concerned about the effect the strike is having on local people and businesses in my constituency. “Obviously everyone is agreed that there has to be changes in the postal service as things cannot continue in the way they have over the last few years. “During my talks with local union officials there was a consensus that modernisation would have to be embraced -but the problem appears to be a disagreement between management and the union on how those changes should be implemented.

"It is important that the two sides start talking again and I am asking Lord Mandleson to bring pressure on both sides to resolve the dispute."