Christmas post deliveries will not be hit by strike action, in a deal reached between postal workers and Royal Mail.

TUC leader Brendan Barber said the agreement halts any industrial action until after the Christmas period.

He said it provided for a "period of calm" in the run-up to and beyond Christmas, free of industrial action, to enable further negotiations to be held to secure a longer term deal.

Dave Ward, of the Communication Workers' Union, said: "We hope we can genuinely take forward modernisation in a way that puts the union at the centre.

"Our members will now know we can deal with modernisation in a way that gives them improved job security and improved terms and conditions."

Mr Ward added that the union was under no illusions about the hard work ahead.

"It will take exceptional efforts to rebuild trust," he said, "but we will work very hard to ensure that the agreement stays on track."

The deal was reached just hours before the latest 24-hour national stoppage was due to begin on Friday.

CWU members have held a series of strikes in the long-running row over jobs, pay and pensions, causing huge delays to mail deliveries.

Royal Mail's Mark Higson said the agreement was a sensible one which would "deliver a great Christmas".

"We look forward to positive and constructive discussion on the next stage of Royal Mail's modernisation plan, which is key to the future of the company," he added.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson welcomed the news, saying he hoped all the "wrinkles" in the modernisation process could now be solved by negotiation.

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