People receiving benefits in Bradford are waiting to see what the effect of a two-day strike would have on their payments.

Union bosses said the action, which began on Thursday and concluded today, has hit the operation of the benefits system, but the Department for Work and Pensions said payouts would not be affected.

Employees at the DWP's Job Centres, pensions offices and Child Support Agency walked out on Thursday.

The Public and Commercial Services union has reacted angrily to what it described as a "derisory" three-year pay offer which would give workers an average rise of one per cent a year. The union says this would mean the poorest paid would receive just 24p above the minimum wage. PCS representative Dave Burke said: "The strike has been well supported and the action has been successful.

"Management have had to try and draft workers in from Leeds to fill in. They may say the doors are open but there's nothing happening - its an absolute pantomime."

On the pay offer, he said: "I've been an employee for almost 30 years and this is the poorest offer I have heard. Its a disgrace.

"Long serving, loyal staff are receiving nothing - it is shameful. Especially when you look at Leigh Lewis (Permanent Secretary at the DWP) who has just received a £14,000 pay increase and is driving round in a chauffeured car.

"We are prepared to negotiate any time, any place, anywhere, but management are refusing.

"This strike has been forced on us. When you have low paid workers already they cannot afford to accept what is a zero per cent pay offer. You can't live on that.

"If the DWP remain intransigent there is nothing we can do but take action such as this.

"Hopefully the message has got through to the DWP, but if not we have no option but to resort to further action."

A DWP spokesman said: "We are disappointed the PCS has decided to call this action.

"DWP has done everything necessary to minimise disruption to its customers. All of our offices remain open and no payments to customers have been affected."