The threat of another postal strike in Oxfordshire has been averted after an agreement was struck between workers and the Royal Mail.

Members of the Oxfordshire branch of the Communication Workers Union have withdrawn their request for a ballot calling for strike action. The move came after national CWU officers and senior Royal Mail managers agreed that an independent inquiry should be carried out into industrial relations in the whole industry.

Pete Boswell, Oxfordshire branch secretary for the CWU, said the Royal Mail had the worst track record for industrial disputes in the UK.

He said: "Postal workers in Oxfordshire will welcome this inquiry. For too long both Royal Mail management and the national union have refused to face up to the demoralisation and discontent that is inherent within the postal industry."

He added: "Our customers should not have to put up with constant disruption to their postal service."

The review will affect Oxfordshire, Liverpool, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Kevin Oakley, Royal Mail area manager for Oxfordshire, said he was pleased the application for a ballot had been withdrawn. He said: "Both myself and colleagues in the CWU are committed to the review."

Postal services in Oxfordshire took weeks to return to normal after an unofficial eight-day strike in February.