Royal Mail is to seek a High Court injunction to stop a strike in December which could affect Christmas deliveries.

A court application will be made today. The action has been prompted by concern about any effect on the general election scheduled for December 12, but disruption at that time could also hit retail over the vital Christmas period as shoppers increasingly purchase online and rely on timely delivery of gifts.

Royal Mail said it believes there are potential irregularities in the CWU trade union ballot held for industrial action, “which would render it unlawful”.

Royal Mail said: “The company is making this High Court application because the integrity and legal soundness of any electoral process is vital. This is particularly the case in relation to potential industrial action around the General Election on December 12, 2019.

“Royal Mail is also making this application because of the damage industrial action would do to the company and its customers in the run-up to Christmas.”

The application is expected to be held in the High Court next week. It does not apply to employees of Parcelforce Worldwide.

Earlier this week business secretary Andrea Leadsom claimed: “The timing of this threat is clearly politically calculated and would disrupt both the election and people’s Christmas deliveries.”