Strikes planned for Friday 6 November and Monday 9 November will not go ahead. However, the strike ballot remains in place.

An interim agreement has been reached by the two parties, and ratified by the union's postal executive, allowing time for more discussions to take place.

The interim agreement guarantees that modernisation will be introduced with agreed job security and improved terms and conditions for postal workers as well as addressing other issues raised in the local disputes, the CWU said.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "There needs to be exceptional efforts to improve trust and relationships between CWU and Royal Mail. As a result both TUC and ACAS will have a continuing role to keep the discussions and agreement on track."

The deal means that Royal Mail deliveries should be free of any interruption over Christmas.

More to follow…