Region is hit by council strike

Councils across the Black Country and Staffordshire were brought to their knees today as thousands of staff walked out over pay.

One of the biggest strikes in years forced schools to close, bin collections to be dropped and care services to be axed. The region's car parks were unmanned and burials, cremations and civil weddings postponed.

The industrial action is being staged by members of Unison and Unite, who are furious with the Government's 2.45 per cent pay offer.

Wolverhampton was one the worst-hit areas, with 6,000 staff walking out. Adrian Turner, from Unison estimated only 10 per cent of staff to be at their desks. Almost 50 schools in Wolverhampton and all libraries shut their doors, rubbish has gone uncollected and social services cut back.

In Sandwell, 4,000 people were protesting, resulting in the closure or partial closure of 26 schools.

Up to half of Stafford Borough Council's 500 employees were striking with 12 schools closed. Hundreds of people were also on the picket line in Dudley.

In Cannock Chase, 229 council staff walked out – more than a third of the 643 workers. Wyre Forest District Council announced that 133 of its 200 frontline staff were striking.