COURIERS and delivery companies in Derbyshire are waiting to take on extra work if city postal workers go on strike.

The Communication Workers' Union predicts that the results of a ballot of its 120,000 Royal Mail members, including about 1,500 in Derby, which ends this week, will show significant support for a national strike around Christmas.

Union chiefs claim Royal Mail has provoked the action because of its modernisation plans across the country.

But Lee Barron, the union's Midlands regional secretary, said striking would only be a last resort and that "there had been support for strike action in the Midlands".

John Wood, transport manager at Derby Express Couriers, on West Meadows Industrial Estate, said: "The last time there was a strike, there were queues to our building with extra letters and parcels. It would be excellent for us."

Gareth Hodson, manager of logistics firm Advance Forward Group, in Melbourne, said: "Any extra work helps and we would be pleased to take it on."

A spokesman for delivery company DHL, which has a hub in Castle Donington, said: "Our experienced network is more than ready to deal with any additional demand."

Last month, Derby postal staff feared for the future of Royal Mail's sorting depot, in Midland Road, after daily sorting of 150,000 second-class items was moved to Nottingham. But Royal Mail has confirmed that no jobs will go and £5m is to be spent on new sorting machines.