MORE than 900 postal workers in Preston stopped work this week plunging election postal votes into jeopardy.

With just two weeks to go until the General Election, voters who have chosen to cast their vote by post, could face the prospect of having their papers stuck in postal depots or post boxes.

In Preston, more than 2,600 people have applied to cast their vote by post -- an increase of 44 per cent on November's by-election.

South Ribble council staff say they are "on alert" and keeping a close eye on the situation.

Due to the huge increase of postal votes, coupled with the postal strike at depots at Christian Road and the Royal Mail centre at Pitman Way, Fulwood, council chiefs in Preston have already implemented contingency plans for postal voters to hand their papers in to the Town Hall on Thursday June 7.

Preston postal workers went on unofficial strike after their Watford colleagues walked out on Tuesday after a dispute over working conditions.

Andy Tatchell, branch secretary for the Northern Lancashire and Cumbria CWU (Communication Workers' Union) said: "To be honest, postal votes is something that has worried us and at the last meeting we had with management this issue was brought up but nothing was resolved.

"Hopefully, this industrial action will be resolved quickly and we would like to apologise to the public for the inconvenience."

A spokesman for Preston Borough Council, added: "Application forms for postal votes need to be received by 5pm on Wednesday May 30 and people can hand deliver them to the Town Hall.

"We're due to issue ballot papers during the next few days so we're looking at contingency arrangements such as hand delivery by council staff.

"People will be able to return ballot papers to the Town Hall or to any polling station within the constituency on polling day."

A South Ribble Borough Council spokesperson said: "Obviously, we are keeping a very close eye on the situation.

"We hope that both parties resolve their differences. It's just a case of bad timing."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We continue to seek urgent talks locally with the union to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible and, again, we appeal to our staff to return to work.

"It's disappointing that union members have gone on strike when Royal Mail and the Communication Workers' Union leadership have appointed an independent team to review industrial relations.

"It would be more sensible for the strikers to make their case to the review team instead of continuing with this unnecessary strike."

However, Preston North End fans could escape the strike as tickets for the play-off final at Cardiff on Bank Holiday Monday can be picked up from either the Deepdale ground or the Millennium Stadium.