POSTAL staff began staging their second 24 hour strike today with Royal Mail offices in Hitchin, Letchworth GC, Shefford and Royston being involved. Today s strike affected only delivery staff and throughout Comet country there is unlikely to be any deliv

POSTAL staff began staging their second 24 hour strike today with Royal Mail offices in Hitchin, Letchworth GC, Shefford and Royston being involved.

Today's strike affected only delivery staff and throughout Comet country there is unlikely to be any deliveries.

But support for the strike was patchy with reports that there was only 50-50 backing for the stoppage in Letchworth GC and Royston and some staff had also crossed picket lines in Hitchin and Shefford.

Steve Butts, the area representative for the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: "We have 20 pickets here at Hitchin but 10 people have gone in out of a staff of 75 and three are working out of 16 at Shefford.

"During the 24 hour strike at Stevenage yesterday only nine people worked out of 300 staff which was a very good response."

Mr Butts said there had been great support from the public.

"The public now understand what we are up against and what we are fighting for which is our jobs," added Mr Butts.