BUSINESSES in East Lancashire are bracing themselves for severe disruption if the deadlock which has brought about Friday's postal strike is not broken.

Royal Mail services will grind to a halt at midnight tomorrow in line with the 24-hour action called by the Communication Workers' Union in response to a breakdown in negotiations on pay and conditions.

And an East Lancashire postal watchdog group claims long-term strike action would cost businesses many thousands of pounds.

Valerie Miles, secretary of the East Lancashire Post Office Advisory Committee, said: "I don't think it will have a significant affect this Friday.

"The panic is that this is the start of something much bigger. This is because negotiations have gone on for so long without getting anywhere.

One day is a nuisance, especially as far as cheques are concerned, but the effect is not really expected to be much more worse than that.

"If people are desperate, they will be able to resort to couriers."

Services will continue normally until midnight tomorrow and resume at midnight on Friday.

So far customers have been advised to post early, but mail chiefs say there has been no subsequent Christmas-style rush.

Ken Barker, director and general manager for Royal Mail North Wales and North West, said he was disappointed that the strike had been called despite efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.

He said: "We have put forward proposals to the union providing for more money for our postmen and post- women.

"On pay, the vast majority of our people will gain financially. There will be no losers in terms of guaranteed weekly pay.

"We are also proposing further discussions with the CWU to reach an agreement on a new way of working, including increased flexibility, to help us respond better to customers' needs."

"This package amounts to a ground-breaking deal by any standards and represented the best opportunity to improve pay and working conditions for many years."

Customers facing problems can contact an information line on 0345 740740.

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