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Union leaders will decide today whether to back a deal to end the postal strikes which have been crippling Britain.

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) is to consider a document drawn up after last week's marathon talks with Royal Mail bosses.

If the CWU's executive accepts the deal, brokered on Friday, the 130,000 members of the union employed by the postal service will be invited to vote on the proposals. The deal is aimed at bringing an end to an ongoing row over pay, pensions and modernisation plans.

A brief joint statement released on Friday by the CWU and Royal Mail said that "all the issues in dispute" were covered by the terms which were hammered out by both sides.

The agreement came after Royal Mail secured a high court injunction blocking further scheduled walkouts by postal workers this week. A series of 48-hour strikes have already severely affected postal services, while unofficial action staged by staff in some areas last week exacerbated the situation.

Reports claim that more than 50 delivery offices and mail centres were hit by the unofficial walkouts, which arose from postal workers' anger at changes to shift times.

Yesterday business and enterprise secretary John Hutton urged the CWU to accept the deal put forward by the Royal Mail in order to end the postal strikes.

Mr Hutton told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that there was now "no justification" for the industrial action to continue.

"There is a sensible deal that's been hammered out and I think everyone is just hoping that now the union will support this," he said.

Previously the CWU had refused to accept a pay offer for postal workers, on the grounds that it contained "unacceptable strings" - including a reduction in pensions benefits.

The union also attacked Royal Mail's modernisation plan, which it said could result in the loss of 40,000 jobs.

However the postal service provider insists that changes are necessary in order for the company to remain competitive following the liberalisation of the postal market.