Oxford's post strike is spreading, with nearly 500 workers now involved in the dispute ahead of a meeting to break the deadlock.

Union representative Bob Cullen, left, joins protesters outside the Cowley Mail Centre

Union officials are to hold talks with management on Tuesday, April 13. But with workers at Royal Mail House in Becket Street joining striking staff at the Oxford mail centre in Cowley and the Headington sorting office, the row is intensifying.

The strike now involves 480 workers. Communication Workers Union representative Bob Cullen said tomorrow's meeting at Cowley Workers' Social Club could be the turning point.

As the wildcat strike which has crippled the county's postal service reached its 15th day, Mr Cullen said staff were anxious to return to work.

He joined workers on a 12-hour picket line outside the Oxford mail centre on Monday, April 13.

He said: "I think after two weeks they are desperate to get back to work.

"They were desperate to get back after two minutes.

"But they still see the principle that you can't work in an unsafe environment."

Talks between Royal Mail management and senior union official in London broke down on Good Friday.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "There are still in excess of 1,000 employees working normally.

"We would urge all of those employees taking part in unofficial strike action to return to work, restore service to our customers and work with us to improve the environment at Royal Mail Oxford."

The union estimates the massive backlog of undelivered mail across the city will take at least three weeks to clear.

The strike was triggered by claims that a small group of workers carried out a campaign of abuse, intimidation and harassment against fellow colleagues and their families.

The strikers say the group at the heart of the allegations are continuing to work on overtime rates.

On Wednesday, the Royal Mail took out an advertisement in the Oxford Mail to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the wildcat strike, the fifth unofficial dispute since September last year.