POSTAL workers in North Staffordshire have smashed Royal Mail delivery targets for the first time in almost four years.

Latest Royal Mail figures show that 94.1 per cent of first-class post arrived on time in the ST postcode from March 22 to June 6, compared to the national average of 92.6 per cent and a company target of 93 per cent.

North Staffordshire's performance put the area in joint 23rd place in the league table of all 118 postcodes in the UK. It is the first time postal workers have beaten Royal Mail's target since June to September 2006.

In the year to March posties delivered 88.2 per cent of first-class mail on time as the service was marred by a series of strikes.

Processing and distribution staff at Royal Mail's Leek Road office in Stoke held walkouts in July and August 2009 in protest against plans to move their work to Wolverhampton, while their delivery colleagues staged an unofficial strike in sympathy.

In Burslem, delivery workers took part in three bouts of action in August and September in response to changes to their working conditions.

And a long-running dispute over Royal Mail's modernisation proposals, which the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said would result in cuts in jobs, pay and services, culminated in two national strikes in October.

A third walkout was called off and in April union members voted to accept a deal to bring the row to an end.

Malcolm Brundrett, area delivery representative for the Midland number seven branch of the CWU, said: "We've obviously had a problem-free few months and these figures are testament to the hard work of our members and the effort they put in on a daily basis."

In the CW postcode, which covers South Cheshire, 92.1 per cent of first-class post was delivered on time, just below the Royal Mail target.

The Sentinel reported last month that Royal Mail's depot in Crewe had closed its doors, 18 months after Royal Mail announced plans to close the Weston Road base and move its 600 staff to Warrington.

Steve Wright, CWU South Cheshire branch secretary, warned the transfer could have a negative effect on the service. He said: "I would say the quality of service will get worse because they're in a transition period."

Nationally 92.6 per cent of first-class mail was delivered on time, just below the 93 per cent target, which bosses attributed to disruption to UK air services caused by ash from the Icelandic volcano.

The company said preliminary figures for the summer months show workers are now beating the target.

Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said: "We're very determined to keep improving our performance to ensure we consistently hit our targets."