The latest mail strike has meant a boom for Kent’s private postage and parcel companies.

West Malling-based Post and Packing Warehouse has reported a massive surge in interest from desperate businesses who need to find a way round the on-going industrial dispute.

"We have had a 175 per cent increase in the number of enquiries as well as a huge surge of traffic to our website with 350 new unique visitors this month," said director Samantha Anderson.

"Because of the time of year, many businesses owners have asked us to post their VAT returns to ensure they don’t incur a £100 fine. Aside from that, we have also seen many new faces in the shop enquiring if we can offer permanent alternative solutions to Royal Mail; whether it is for invoicing or product dispatch.

"Some business owners are so disenchanted with Royal Mail that they will now do anything to place their business elsewhere. It is a very sad state of affairs."

And Mrs Anderson, who still believes Royal Mail plays a vital role in keeping the postage system running, fears the dispute will sound the death knell for the organisation as we know it.

"I would say they aren’t just shooting themselves in the foot; they are digging their own graves," she said.

"It seems to me that the communication from the management to all members of staff has been exceedingly poor for a considerable amount of time; otherwise I cannot believe industrial action of this type would have been implemented so intensely if the management had a better grip on communicating with their staff. Even now, it seems that no one among the actual postal staff has any idea what is happening."