**A nationwide postal strike, due to take place on Thursday and Friday, will go ahead, the BBC understands.**The decision comes after more than 30 hours of talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) this week.
The prime minister had urged unions and managers to agree a deal saying a strike would be “counter-productive”.
The action, to begin at midnight, is over a row about pay, conditions and Royal Mail’s modernisation plans.
On Thursday, mail centre staff and drivers will strike, while on Friday delivery and collection staff will take action.
The decision came despite a last-gasp plea from Royal Mail for a “strike-free period of calm” in the run-up to Christmas.
The company warned that industrial action would bring “huge damage and distraction” and cause “pain and disruption” for customers.