British postal workers have voted massively in favour of strikes in protest at the sale of the Royal Mail's cash-handling business.
Members of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) backed industrial action by 95 per cent.
The union is protesting against plans to sell the cash-handling and distribution business to Securicor.
CWU general secretary Mr Billy Hayes said: "This is as clear a mandate as anyone could receive. We will go ahead with organisation of strike action within the next few weeks.
"Because of the seriousness of the situation we are also considering a wider ballot of all our members in the postal industry," he said.
The union, which balloted 3,000 workers, will meet next week to consider setting strike dates.
Mr Hayes warned industrial action could mean that post offices would be "starved" of cash and would not be able to provide a service.
PA