Negotiations between Oxfordshire's postal workers and the Royal Mail have broken down - three months after an eight-day strike crippled the county's service.

Workers and managers have reached a deadlock situation after officials from the Communications Workers' Union walked out of talks with Royal Mail.

Last week members of the Communication Workers' Union requested permission from union headquarters to ballot for a strike.

But they said Royal Mail bosses have refused to allow union officials time-off to attend a meeting with the union's deputy general secretary John Keggie next Friday.

Mr Keggie has the say over whether Oxfordshire's postal workers should be allowed to ballot for further strike action.

The union is threatening the strike action because they say an independent review of staff-management relations, promised at the end of the last strike, has not happened.

February's strike was over changes to working practices. Workers were upset at spending more time sorting mail in offices, before going out to deliver the post.

Peter Boswell, CWU, spokesman, said: "This is getting ridiculous. If the managers won't allow us to meet with out national deputy general secretary, then he is even more likely to decide that we should ballot for a strike.

"This is really not the way to behave."

But spokesman for Royal Mail Richard Hall said local CWU representatives had withdrawn from the Industrial Relations Framework - a national agreement between the Royal Mail and the union.

He said: "Within the process the representatives are given time away from their normal duties to carry out union duties.

"All this week we have written to them asking them why they have withdrawn and asking them to rejoin it, but they are not willing to at this stage.

"As they have withdrawn and are no longer representing their members, they have to report for normal duties.

"The door has remained open all week and will remain open if they decide they do want to rejoin.

"We are happy to renegotiate facility time within the framework."

Mr Hill said union officials were still being allowed to represent individuals on conduct matters and attend health and safety meetings. But he said the union had refused to attend several meetings, including a crime prevention partnership scheme with Oxford City Council.