Both sides in mail row resume talks

A total of 35 million items of post have been delayed by this week's postal strikes, the Royal Mail said today.

The news came as both sides in the bitter dispute resumed fresh talks today in a renewed bid to head off further action.

Officials from the Communication Workers Union met Royal Mail managers last night even though a second wave of national walkouts was under way.

About 43,700 workers staged a 24-hour stoppage yesterday and more will be held today and tomorrow in the bitter row over jobs, pay and modernisation.

About 500 workers from the Royal Mail sorting office in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, returned to work from 4am today following their strike action.

Nearly 700 workers from Shropshire delivery centres such as Oswestry, Wellington and Oakengates, are expected to take part in tomorrow's action.

Meanwhile, national sources said that fresh talks were held last night and were resuming today. Neither side would confirm that the meeting had been held.

Hopes of averting the latest action collapsed on Wed-nesday despite three days of talks between the two sides held under the chairmanship of TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

The CWU's postal executive held back today from naming more strike dates as frantic efforts were made to get negotiations back on track.