Royal Mail bosses are trying to duck paying compensation to the public and businesses hit by the postal strike - but will pay out until a decision is made.

Sorting staff get to grips with the backlog of mail

The company wants regulator Postcomm to excuse it liability for paying out for late deliveries caused by the 16-day wildcat action which crippled the postal service in Oxfordshire.

According to a Postcomm agreement, Royal Mail must pay compensation for every letter that arrives three or more working days after the due delivery date, or one day in the case of special delivery or signed-for post.

A Postcomm spokesman said: "Royal Mail has today applied to be allowed to waive the requirement to pay compensation for mail delayed as a result of the unofficial strike in Oxford.

"Now there will be a delay of two or three weeks while we consider the request."

But in a surprise move, Royal Mail told the Oxford Mail: "We have applied for exemption, but while the matter is being considered we are paying com- pensation."

Meanwhile, confusion still reigns among Royal Mail customers and staff.

Oxford Mail reader John Graham followed Postcomm's instructions for claiming compensation and rang the helpline. He was told no compensation would be paid as the delay was caused by unofficial action.

However, the Postcomm rule says compensation is set at 12 first class stamps per late letter for telephone complaints and £5 per letter where written evidence is supplied. The postcomm spokesman added: "Senders and recipients are both eligible, but if both apply, preference will be given to the sender. Compensation is only paid once."

Oxford Mail reader Lindsey Gander, 35, a senior porter at the John Radcliffe Hospital who had received no deliveries at his Headington address yesterday, Friday or Saturday, said: "I rang the helpline but they didn't want to let on to anything about compensation.

"When I pressed them they took my name and address, gave me a reference number and said they would look into it."

He added: "They said post services would be back to normal on April 24. First they said there was still a strike at Lime Walk . Then they said there was not. It seems the head does not know what the feet are doing".

When the Oxford Mail rang the helpline to claim for a late letter, we were told, incorrectly, according to Postcomm, only the sender could claim.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said the backlog should be cleared by lunchtime today, Tuesday, April 20.

"That is quicker than expected thanks to everyone pulling together - and Oxford post being sent to 72 other centres across the country to be sorted," he said.

"Postal services will be fully back on track soon after that."