Pensioners were hit by Oxfordshire's postal strike as order books failed to get through.

Most post offices said they had been able to cash cheques for pensioners using cash reserves, but many were still waiting for order books to arrive.

The dispute ended yesterday, but it has meant a trek for claimants to the Department of Social Services in Floyd's Row, Oxford, to ask for an emergency Giro, which has then had to be taken back to the local post office to be cashed.

In Stanton St John, the postmistress took pity and paid some pensioners this week using cash reserves.

The postmistress, who did not want to be named, said: "A great many were not paid today. The cash has not come in. But I had money left over from the previous week to use. Lots of people needed cash desperately."

At Cowley Post Office staff were diverting people whose cash books were missing to the DSS.

Postmistress Hazel Allnutt said: "Emergency Giros can be issued there, but it's not guaranteed that everyone will be allowed one. They have to come back to the post office to cash it."