UNIONS have called off a postal strike that was set to hit Liverpool tomorrow after a legal challenge by the Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said two injunctions had been served over a ballot of workers in the city.

But last night union officials said they were working with North West MPs to table an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons condemning the Royal Mail’s decision to axe Liverpool’s sorting office.

Around 800 Liverpool workers were expected to be involved in the single day of action tomorrow, including processing and distribution workers and city centre postmen and women.

But the CWU said the two injunctions had been served over “technicalities in the wording of a notice” put up following a ballot of workers in the city.

However, workers in five other areas – Crewe, Coventry, Bolton, Stockport and Oxford – will press ahead with a 24-hour walk-out. Liverpool CWU branch secretary Mark Walsh said: “It is a pity Royal Mail didn’t put as much energy into trying to resolve the people issues and speak to the union than getting the strike called off.

“The injunction itself is based on the wording of a notice, and the fact I told the press previously that we were looking at industrial action up to and including strikes, but the ballot was only for a strike. That is how trivial it has become.”