Royal Mail relying on skeleton staff as 115,000 postal workers strike

Company says 379 of its 1,200 delivery offices are processing mail, with essentials items' the priority

Royal Mail has said it is relying on a skeleton staff to deliver only essential items" after 115,000 postal workers went on strike in year's biggest industrial action so far.

The 500-year-old postal service's employees are striking on Friday, Wednesday next week and 8 and 9 September in a dispute over pay and working practices.