Postal workers have voted in favour of a national strike.

Sources close to the Oxford Mail report a ballot of the 130,000 workers has led to 77.5 per cent of workers giving the green light for action.

The move would see the first national strike in more than 10 years, with homes and businesses in Oxfordshire steeling themselves for disruption.

But union leaders have urged bosses to come to the table for talks and stressed any industrial action would be a last resort.

Oxford Communication Workers Union representative Noel Fay said: "This is a mandate for the employer to re-enter talks which is what we have always wanted."

Mr Fay added that any action could take place in 14 days but that period could be extended if talks were taking place, The union is in dispute with the Royal Mail over pay after leaders rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer in response for a demand that postal workers' pay should rise to the national average during the next five years.

The Royal Mail said the union's claim would cost it £1bn.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Whatever the result of the ballot, it will not change the absolute need for Royal Mail to modernise, which is in the interests of everyone in the company."