EAST Lancashire's postal service is set to be thrown into chaos after workers agreed to strike over pay.

They are among 130,000 postal workers nationally who are members of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) set to walk out this month after rejecting a 2.5per cent pay rise.

Members rejected the offer by three to one, and the CWU is demanding workers' pay should rise to the national average in the next five years.

The Government has warned a strike would damage the industry.

The strike threat comes days after it was revealed that five postmen at Blackburn's Canterbury Street sorting office had been sacked following allegations of racism, bullying and harassment. The five workers and a further nine who were reprimanded are appealing against their punishments.