6:49pm UK, Thursday June 30, 2011
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers have gone on strike with many joining rallies in protest over Government reforms to their pensions.
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Schools, airports, job centres, courts, libraries, museums and tax offices faced disruption as up to 600,000 people joined the industrial action.
Unions said as many as 20,000 marched in London, with thousands more protesting in other cities around the UK.
They are demonstrating against proposals which unions say would mean more work and higher contributions for a lower pension.
The Government has questioned the numbers taking part, but one of the four unions involved - the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) - said today's strike has been the the best-supported ever.
The Cabinet Office said figures gathered from every Government department showed more than 75% of civil servants were not on strike.
It added fewer than 100,000 civil service workers were on strike - around a fifth of the total workforce.
But the PCS union, which includes police support and border staff, claimed its numbers suggested 84% of its members have gone on strike.
The Metropolitan police said nine out of ten of the force's 999 callers failed to turn up for work, with officers drafted in from other duties to make up the numbers.
Schools bore the brunt of the 24-hour walkout as members of three teaching unions staged walkouts.
The Department for Education said more than 11,000 out of 21,500 state schools in England were affected.
In total there were 5,679 schools closed, with nearly 5,000 partially closed. In Wales more than half the 1,800 schools were closed or partially shut.
The National Union of Teachers says 80% of schools in England and Wales have been affected.
Protesters join the protest march through Newcastle
Marches have been largely good-natured, although Sky News witnessed police remove about 10 youths dressed in black hoodies from a rally in central London.
Police in the capital said 30 people had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, breach of the peace and drugs offences.
One police officer and six members of the public were injured. Four arrests in Brighton were linked to a protest there.
The Government has criticised the strikes, with Prime Minister David Cameron describing the action as "wrong".
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said people needed to wake up to the stark economic realities.
"Those who say pensions are affordable should also say which hospitals to shut down to subsidise their pensions," he said.
"People are living longer, so should work longer."
But general secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, said the Government was not playing fair with the cuts.
"I'm a firm believer of negotiations and as I've said, I hope we're going to be able to resolve this through negotiations - without the need for further industrial action," he told Sky News.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Government was "not seeking to be at loggerheads with the unions".
"I think it's a real shame there are strikes because there are talks ongoing between the Government and the trade unions," he said.
Labour leader Ed Miliband has also criticised the mass walkout, saying it was "wrong" - but again accused the Government of "reckless" behaviour.
Federation of Small Businesses, Mike CherryThis action will have a wider impact on the economy as businesses lose productivity - something the economy simply can not afford.
Teacher Angela White told Sky News that while she understands cuts are needed, they should be less severe.
"We're not saying we don't want to take a hit - we understand people are being squeezed," she said.
"What we are saying is, please negotiate and not do all these things at once to us."
Up to 6,000 people joined the pensions protest in Newcastle, a union leader said, and around 1,500 gathered in the centre of Sheffield. A major protest has also taken place in Manchester.
The UK Border Agency warned passengers travelling into Britain would face delays at ports and airports as passport officers join the strike.
Heathrow Airport and the PCS said 70% of border staff at the airport were striking.
Downing Street said there had been "minimal impact" on the public.
"Our border controls are in place and JobCentres and pension offices are open for business," said a spokeswoman.
Special needs teacher Mark Baker, from Rochdale, said a pension of £18,500 that he had expected to receive when he retired at 60 would be cut to £13,500 under Government proposals.
Mr Baker, a regional official for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, insisted the organisation was moderate but added: "There must be something serious if a union that doesn't strike is taking strike action."
The British Chambers of Commerce said the stoppage would result in tens of thousands of parents having to take a day off work to look after their children.
:: Unions insists public sector workers are facing an unprecedented attack on pensions
I actually have 50 Boa Constrictors at present and I love them. All you people who think they are vile need to rethink and get a bit more educated in the area of snakes. Just because it hasn't fed for three weeks doesn't mean it wants to. Snakes can go a year without feeding sometimes. Look at Royal Pythons for example, they are known for their fasting habits. And like someone has already said, HUMAN'S would be able to walk faster than it can move so don't worry about it. This snake will only be agressive if people provoke it so if everyone just leaves it alone (apart from the person whos snake it is) then it should be fine. I really hope that people who do see it DO NOT KILL it as she is lovely and it would just prove how ignorant the human race is about snakes. It always comes down to ignorance in the UK. ALWAYS. They are beautiful creatures. JUST LEAVE THEM BE!!!!
- Kim, Hampshire, 30/6/2011 18:36
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