Casual staff employed by Royal Mail to help clear a massive backlog caused by strikes may not be able to speak English it has emerged. Watford resident Eileen Mackay, 75, said: "A mail van arrived outside my house in Harwoods Road and out got two young girls and they started delivering the mail.

"I spoke to one of them and it was clear she didn't understand a word.

"I timed her deliveries and it took her four minutes to do one letter. I have no problem with them employing casual staff, but they ought at least to be able to speak English."

Postal workers - some of whom continued their industrial action this week by picketing outside the Watford Mail Centre in Ascot Road - also raised concerns about the linguistic skills of agency staff.

Local Communication Workers Union (CWU) branch secretary Alan Walsh alleged casual staff employed at Watford Mail Centre in Ascot Road were effectively working through an interpreter.

Royal Mail representative James Taylor said: "We have contingency plans in place to cover strike action, which include management volunteers, staff working normally and fully trained and vetted temporary staff when needed.

"There are no severe backlogs of mail at Watford caused by the strike action and contingency plans continue to work well. All temporary staff speak English and are working well."

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