The post strike prevented an anxious mother from being told whether her daughter needed to be rushed in to hospital after a brain scan.

Worrying wait: Milly and Saskia Wilce Milly Wilce, of George Street, Bicester, was expecting the results of a scan on her daughter Saskia to find out whether the three-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and a heart condition, is also epileptic.

She finally telephoned Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital and the hospital was able to tell Mrs Wilce the contents of the undelivered letter.

Mrs Wilce said: "Everybody has got a right to good working conditions and decent pay. If you are not happy with that you have got to speak out.

"But you have still got a duty to continue the job."

Saskia was taken for a scan at the Park Hospital in Oxford after she had a "turn" a few weeks ago.

Mrs Wilce, who also has twin two-year-old sons, said: "They didn't know if she had an epileptic fit or if her heart was playing up."