Some postal workers at Mallusk blocked the path of mail vans

Royal Mail managers delivered 11-plus results to thousands of homes in Belfast on Saturday amid unofficial strike action by postal workers.

The strike began on Tuesday at the Tomb Street depot but spread to the main sorting depot at Mallusk on Friday.

Owen Davey of the Communication Workers Union said they were doing all in their power to end the dispute.

"They want to get back to work at the earliest opportunity. We are merely trying to facilitate that, mediate that and make that possible," he said.

The strike began over disciplinary procedures. So far, deliveries in north, south and west Belfast have been affected.

However, there were fears that if more workers joined the dispute, deliveries across Northern Ireland could be hit.

Only a small number of postal staff turned up for the late shift at the main sorting deport at Mallusk on Friday, the Royal Mail said.

Talks

On Saturday, David Peden, commercial manager, Royal Mail, said managers successfully delivered the 11-plus results.

"We had our team of managers in from early morning, they were on the streets before 6.30am.

"All the indications are that it has been a great success."

Picket

The unofficial action was started by more than 200 postal workers at the city's Tomb Street depot.

It was blamed on difficulties between staff and management over disciplinary procedures and other issues in the north Belfast section.

Royal Mail has said workers need to come off the picket line before they will enter into negotiations with them.

However, staff involved in the dispute have said they have no intention of returning to work until the original dispute in Belfast has been resolved.

Talks have been taking place in London to try to bring the strike to an end.