Extra protective clothing is being offered to postal workers in Oxford as a precaution against the threat of an anthrax attack.

The decision follows the death of two Washington postal workers, who died of suspected pulmonary anthrax. There have been no reported incidents in Britain.

Oxford's 1,600 sorting office staff are trained to spot suspect packages and are now being extra vigilant.

Noel Fay, assistant secretary of the Communication Workers Union's Oxford branch, said that the use of personal protective equipment, including gloves, had been "stepped up", and its availability was much more noticeable.

"Our staff are extremely well trained to identify normal hazards," Mr Fay said. "We have gloves and other ways and means of identifying suspect items.

"The union has taken advice from the Post Office Employee Health Service and the UK's Public Health Laboratories.

"We have issued an extensive brief to all our members and have local systems in place to deal with any chemical or substance hazards."

Last week, at the Liverpool mail centre, postal workers were involved in a false alarm, when a package was found containing a powdery substance.

Mr Fay said a message of condolence had been sent to the CWU's sister union, the Communication Workers of America, following the deaths there.