Royal Mail workers were holding a crucial meeting today to decide whether to continue their strike, writes Emma Henry.

The week-long stoppage, affecting Oxford and Bicester, has paralysed deliveries and collections in many parts of Oxfordshire.

The dispute follows the suspension of a postal worker who allegedly harassed a colleague.

Union leaders said Royal Mail managers had promised a decision on what action they proposed to take against the accused worker, but no announcement had yet been made.

A branch meeting has been called at the Cowley Mail Centre for later today to discuss the union's next move. Pete Boswell, branch secretary of the Oxfordshire Communication Workers' Union, said: "The medical reports and all the interviews were concluded by 4pm yesterday. They told us they would have a decision with us by midnight, but we've heard nothing."

He said if a decision was reached before today's meeting, whether it was dismissal, the case being cleared, or a punishment, the recommendation from the union would most likely be to return to work while appeal or other procedures were followed.

But postal workers at Bicester and Headington voted this morning to continue the strike indefinitely. They were criticised by MP Evan Harris for stalling an 'essential service' for 'pathetic' reasons.

The MP for Oxford West and Abingdon said he had spoken to both the Royal Mail management and the unions, and neither side seemed to understand what effect the dispute was having across the county.

Dr Harris said: "They should have a very high threshold before they strike.

"To those of us who know what it's about, it's pathetic."

He had written to the Royal Mail, asking why relations between management and workers had deteriorated so badly.