Thousands of homes and businesses across Oxfordshire were without post this morning (Friday) as strike action escalated.

Fifty Royal Mail staff have walked out of the Oxford mail centre in Cowley, leaving stacks of unsorted letters.

The unofficial action, which started in Bicester, has hit the whole Oxford postcode region. Only a quarter of the sorting office workers at Oxford Business Park are working.

Postal staff in Bicester have also continued their strike for the third consecutive day and will not return to work until Monday at the earliest.

Royal Mail, which has condemned the strike, has warned the public not to use letter boxes in the OX area.

Managers are trying to organise a contingency plan to minimise disruption, but many people have already become caught up in the dispute.

City employees acted in support of colleagues in Bicester who walked out of the Murdock Road sorting office on Wednesday. Their action followed the suspension of a postman after an allegation of harassment.