The Royal Mail has won a High Court injunction preventing next week's planned 48-hour strike by postal workers.

Communication Workers' Union members were set to walk out at 11am on 19 October in a protest over pay, pensions and jobs.

In a statement to the stock market on Thursday, Royal Mail said that the court's decision had confirmed that any strike action prior to completion of agreed dispute resolution procedures would be unlawful.

"We will now make contact with the CWU as a matter of urgency to begin the process of external mediation," the company said.

Royal Mail said talks would likely take until around Christmas time to complete, or possibly longer. That means strike action in the run-up to the busy festive period now appears unlikely.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said last week that the dispute was a “watershed” moment that would determine not only members’ pensions, jobs and pay but also the future of the UK’s postal service.

“Postal workers delivered a massive ‘Yes’ vote for strike action and we are determined to take whatever steps are necessary to deliver an agreement that will protect and enhance our members’ terms and conditions and improve the range of services on offer to customers,” he said.

Mr Ward said the union would launch a “major campaign” to gain public and political support for postal workers. “This is your service. We must work together to save it,” he said.

Of those who voted, 89.1 per cent cast their ballot in favour of strike action.