POSTAL workers this afternoon held a rally in Southampton demanding the Government's abandon its plan to sell a stake in Royal Mail.

Around 80 members of the Communication Workers Union and other supporters marched through the city urging shoppers to back their campaign to "keep the post public".

They were joined Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead and Labour's south east Euro MP Peter Skinner who earlier addressed the rally.

The government says Royal Mail's multi-billion pound pension deficit and falling numbers of letters being delivered shows it needs reform and outside investment.

Unions argue the service can be modernised without privatisation which would trigger another round of Post Office closures and put up prices.

The rally was organised by left-wing campaign group Compass.