MAIL managers could have to help deliver post when workers go on strike on Friday.

Postal staff at Fareham voted overwhelmingly to strike following claims that managers were breaking agreements over working conditions and failing to recruit enough staff to cope with the workload.

Staff voted 108 to eight to go ahead with industrial action throwing weekend deliveries into chaos.

Contingency plans by Consignia, formerly Royal Mail, include drafting in managers from across the region to help with collections and sorting post.

Consignia spokesman Adrian Booth said: "We want to make sure that we minimise the disruption for our customers and, while no firm plans have been made, an alert has gone out to all our managers to help cover at least some of the service.

"We will do our best to continue with business deliveries in the Fareham area but obviously there will be some disruption to domestic mail."

He would not rule out managers having to make deliveries.

The one-day action on Friday will be followed with another 24-hour strike on Monday meaning households from Portchester to Segensworth could have post delayed for days.

The action is a "last resort" according to staff at the Newgate Lane sorting office.

Communication Workers Union spokesman Richard Tabbner said: "This is the last thing we want to happen but you can only be kicked down for so long before you have to kick back.

"This is nothing to do with pay but we are upset with the broken agreements by management, there's only so much workers can take particularly when more staff are needed anyway."