POSTAL staff will be at work today after planned strike action was called off.

After several days of talks between union leaders and Royal Mail, an agreement was finally reached yesterday following a long-running row over jobs, pay and pensions.

National walkouts planned for today and Monday would have been the latest in a series of strikes that have seen postal workers across North Staffordshire and South Cheshire take to the picket lines.

But the agreement means deliveries will return to normal in the run-up to Christmas. Further negotiations will be held in pursuit of a long-term deal.

Commercial Workers' Union (CWU) area representative, Malcolm Brundrett, said: "We're glad to report that there will be services today and Monday.

"It's called an interim agreement. I don't know the details yet, but I suspect it will be along the lines of Royal Mail agreeing to look at some of the job cuts and service changes that have already been imposed."

Andy Plant, Midland number seven branch secretary for the CWU, said: "Our members will be pleased that strike action they had to take has brought Royal Mail back to the table.

"Until we see the finer details of the agreement our members will be apprehensive, but at this moment in time they will see it as a victory for the CWU and themselves."

Dave Ward, the CWU's deputy general secretary, last night said he was pleased with the agreement, which had been accepted unanimously by the union's postal executive.

"We can now have a period of calm where 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 said the union was under no illusions about the hard work ahead and he said the dispute had been "bitter".

He added: "It will take exceptional efforts to rebuild trust."

Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said he was "delighted" for customers that a "sensible agreement" had been reached.

He said it allowed the company to move forward with modernisation in the New Year.

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

"I would also like to thank all those who have worked so hard to minimise disruption and to keep the mail moving for our customers."

Hundreds of collection and delivery workers in Stoke, Burslem, Hanley, Newcastle, Kidsgrove, Biddulph, Leek, Cheadle, Uttoxeter, Stone and Stafford, as well as Crewe, Congleton, Nantwich and Sandbach, manned the picket lines during strike action last week.

Mail centre staff, network drivers and manual data entry workers have also supported the previous strikes.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, pictured, welcomed the news that the strikes had been put on hold. Last month, at the height of the negotiations, he was criticised by CWU general secretary Billy Hayes who claimed he was being "extremely unhelpful" during the talks.

Lord Mandelson said: "I hope very much indeed that we will not see further strikes. I hope that if there are wrinkles in the modernisation process, will be smoothed out by discussion and negotiation without resorting to further strikes."