A PROLONGED series of postal strikes will hit small businesses in Boston hard it has been claimed.

Communications Workers Union (CWU) members held a two-day walk out on Thursday and Friday last week and plan further industrial action starting tomorrow in the dispute over Royal Mail's modernisation plans.

Federation of Small Businesses Wash Branch chairman Kevin Mothers called on the two sides to come to an amicable agreement as soon as possible and told the Target if there was protracted industrial action in the lead up to Christmas many small businesses in Boston would lose money and trade.

He said: "Small businesses still rely on the Royal Mail more than larger businesses do.

"Many large businesses have already moved to alternative delivery carriers and, in any case, use electronic mail and automated payment methods to a much greater extent.

"Smaller businesses still tend to be sending out invoices by post and looking to receive cheques in their incoming mail."

Last week a last-ditch attempt to resolve the dispute failed and the CWU criticised Secretary of State for Business Lord Mandelson and accused him of working with Royal Mail to undermine the talks, saying the minister had privately expressed his doubts about the capabilities of Royal Mail's management.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "It was only a few months ago that Lord Mandelson said Royal Mail management was unable to create an effective industrial relations environment. He now blindly backs that same management."

Royal Mail condemned the strikes calling them "damaging" and said that the launch of extra action was "appalling but sadly not surprising."