The centre processes an estimated 1.2m letters and parcels every day

Staff at the Exeter Mail Centre walked out in support of a union official involved in a dispute with managers.

Royal Mail managers have been helping to sort post since Tuesday's walk-out.

The Royal Mail has apologised for the disruption. A Communication Workers Union (CWU) spokesman said they were trying to negotiate a return to work.

The dispute began on Tuesday, when drivers at the centre refused to go out on collection duty. Staff reporting for duty on the late shift, night shift and Wednesday's early shift followed suit.

Mail was also turned away on Tuesday by striking freight workers at Exeter airport.

Collections and deliveries in Plymouth, Exeter and Cornwall with the post codes TQ, EX, PL and TR are being affected, with "severe disruptions" expected to tens of thousands of deliveries and collections.

We should be talking not walking Dave Schofield, Royal Mail

'Disappointed'

The strike was called after Royal Mail started disciplinary proceedings against a union official over his sick leave.

Workers say proper procedures were not followed, which Royal Mail denies.

The Royal Mail's area general manager, Dave Schofield, said: "We should be talking not walking.

"It's sad and we are very disappointed because basically we have let all the customers down in this area."

Talks are being held with staff and unions on Wednesday to come to a resolution.

Phil Chadwick, CWU branch secretary said: "A complicating factor is that Royal Mail have now placed additional sanctions on the workforce on the duty rotation and conditions that they will work under on their return and that has severely complicated the return to work."

The company says the change brings workers in line with others across Britain.