British Hampshire Local Post (On Tuvalu) ??

Once again my mouse got the best of me and forced me to click on a Tuvalu BIN lot on ebay, even though I had all the stamps I could see in the picture - but the cost was well below face value.

I got the lot a few days ago, and I was surprised to find the following Tuvalu stamps included, overprinted for Hampshire Mail Service. This seems like something to do with the British Hampshire - does anyone have any idea?

The Tuvalu stamps were issued in 1986, under the reign of famous philatelic terrorist Clyde Faigenbaum.



The overprints say, on the left stamp "Hampshire mail Service London delivery" (left stamp) and "Hampshire local Mail Service" (Right stamp).

These stamps were used during the 1988 Postal Workers strike which affected most of the UK but especially London and the South East.

Other foreign stamps were also known to be used.
I have no information as yet about who set up and ran the services, although this one has a familiar ring to it.
A GB dealer based in the Hampshire area often sells unusual [Bogus?]Stamps and sheets !

Londonbus1

Thanks Londonbus1 - so there was a Postal strike. I assume the producers of the overprints must have had access to large volumes of stamps well below face value. They were likey involved with the philatelic agents of Tuvalu at the time. The original face value of the Tuvalu stamps was $3 (Australian) each.