The most bitter UK industrial dispute of the last year is on the verge of being settled as the union representing 112,000 frontline Royal Mail workers agrees to recommend the terms of a peace deal.

The company and Communication Workers Union (CWU) have been at each others’ throats for more than 11 months but agreed the outline of an agreement last weekend pending the approval of the union’s national executive.

The CWU said it would be put to a vote – with both sides claiming victories in certain areas.