A POSTAL worker has admitted union members feel “terrible” about the prospect of British troops abroad not receiving presents and letters from loved ones if a national strike goes ahead.

Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have voted in favour of a national strike if an agreement over terms and conditions and job losses is not reached with Royal Mail.

If the strike goes ahead, it is feared that some servicemen and women may not receive their Christmas gifts and parcels.

John Ayres, CWU area distribution representative for East London, said the issue was the union's “Achilles heel” in the dispute.

Mr Ayres said: “We really don't want to be held up as the people who are stopping presents and letters going to loved ones in Afghanistan.

“We are trying desperately to find a way around it.”

Mr Ayres was speaking in response to concerns raised by volunteer group Honour Our Troops, which aims to boost the moral of British servicemen and women abroad.

An Honour Our Troops spokeswoman said: “Strike action may mean the troops will not have cards and parcels from home, and through Honour Our Troops and other forces groups, people all over the country have been collecting parcels for Christmas presents to be sent out to the British Forces.

 “We fully understand the grievances of your staff in relation to their working conditions but those of the armed forces abroad are dirty, dangerous and highly stressful.  “They cannot go home to their families at the end of a shift or to the pub with their mates to relax.   “Recently, far too many service personnel have lost their lives so we at home can be safe.”

Local services will be disrupted severely again this week.

CWU distribution and processing staff at the East London Mail Centre, in Bromley-by-Bow, staged a walk-out today and workers at the distribution hub in Leyton will strike tomorrow.