Support for yesterday's mass walkouts was widespread right across the country.

About 6,000 campaigners in Newcastle took part in a good-natured march against pension cuts.

Union leaders said that one in three people in the region work in the public sector and had every right to protest about the Government's plans.

TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan said: "We have 5,000 to 6,000 people joining us in the city centre, which is a terrific turnout.

"It's a show of strength because we have a fairly weak private sector, so any action by the Government is going to impact more on this region."

About 1,500 people gathered in the centre of Sheffield for a rally, march and a sing-song.

A series of speakers addressed the crowd of teachers, civil servants and students who were gathered outside City Hall.

Teacher Lisa Tunnell told the protesters: "The Government's pay freezes and proposed cuts to pensions have already forced many to consider leaving the profession.

"People who believe passionately in comprehensive education can no longer afford to choose teaching as a career."

On Merseyside hundreds of schools were forced to close, while courts and job centres were also hit by the industrial action.

At Liverpool's passport office 537 out of the 550 staff downed tools, while civil servants at MoD and Criminal Records Bureau offices also walked out. The city's World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery also had to close for the day.

CHEERED

Thousands of protesters marched from William Brown Street to the city's Chinatown for a rally, carrying placards, flags and leaflets.

Strikers blew whistles and chanted: "No ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts."

In Manchester striking workers were out in force as teachers and civil servants there showed their support for the 24-hour shutdown.

A march in the city ended with a rally at the Castlefield Arena where speakers were cheered as they attacked the pension plans.

Barry Lovejoy, of the University and College Union, praised the "brilliant" support for the protests. He told the rally: "It's the biggest strike in a generation. Nearly three-quarters of a million workers taking strike action against a great pension robbery."

Mr Lovejoy added that "Eton toff politicians" and "millionaires in the Cabinet" were trying to demonise public sector workers.

More than 1,000 protesters surged on to the streets of Bristol. Workers assembled at the city's College Green at 11am and shouted slogans while banging drums.

They spent hours slowly walking through the busy city centre.

Job centres were hit by walkouts in Plymouth, Exeter and Torquay, while tax and benefit offices were also hit.

There were also walkouts in Exeter at the prison, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Rural Payments Agency, the Combined Courts Centre and the CPS office.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber addressed at least 700 protesters at the city's Corn Exchange before a march.

Leon Searle, a job centre worker on a picket line, said: "It was a good turnout and people passing the centre were supporting our strike.

"This is the beginning of a fight we have to win. We want fair and proper negotiation."

The protests in Exeter culminated in a rally in the city's Belmont Park, where left-wing singer-songwriter Billy Bragg performed.

Billy, who lives near Dorchester in Dorset, said the protests were vital to ensure that the best people continued to choose teaching as a profession.

He said: "Teachers do a very important job, above all other jobs. We should be encouraging people to come into the profession and stay in it."

In Nottingham, chanting rang out from a makeshift stage in the city's main square.

Teacher Maria Fawcett said she went out on strike because she was upset at the prospect of having to pay extra for her pension each month. The 28-year-old, of Sherwood, said: "I feel the Government is spreading a lot of malicious stuff about teachers having a golden pension plan.

"We work really hard and I think the Government's trying to say that we're going to get this great pension.

"My fiance's a teacher as well and he's here today. The future will be difficult – we don't own a house and we want to save up for a loan."

A lack of staff in Cumbria meant that the county's annual Schoolympics – a sports day for hundreds of primary school children – had to be cancelled. While in Hull more than 100 primary schools were forced to close their doors. Almost 200 schools closed in Leicestershire, with strikers and supporters gathering at the city council offices in Leicester.

Many court appearances, driving tests and job interviews were cancelled across the county.

Passengers at East Midlands airport, near Derby, also faced some disruption as immigration staff joined the protests.

SHUT

In Brighton 3,500 people took part in a demo while there were marches and picket lines across London including at the Old Bailey.

Almost 40,000 public sector workers in Wales joined the strike as an estimated 1,000 schools and dozens of Government buildings were shut. In Cardiff protesters marched to the Welsh ­Government's building in Cathay Park.

Andy Richards, of the Wales TUC, told the crowd: "This assault on our class is designed to shift the blame for the economic crisis to the public sector."

Higher education institutions also suffered from the protests, with members of the University and College Union supporting the action.

Lecturers formed picket lines outside college campuses in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

In Scotland 30,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union took part in the walkout and there were picket lines at Faslane naval base and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. There was also a rally in Glasgow's George Square.