Union members have been picketing Shipley’s HM Revenue and Customs office and leafleting in the town centre during the second day of a 48-hour strike.

Council and tax offices were disrupted from Monday as the stoppage (above and left) was held by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union in protest at proposed cuts in redundancy pay.

Shipley PCS branch secretary Beth Baker said: “The union has suggested ways to get around the need for cuts. It is affecting all civil servants, and a lot of them stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds.

“We went out into Shipley town centre to tell the public what it was all about. We are not asking for increases we are just trying to defend our terms and conditions.”

Nationally, up to 270,000 civil servants were on strike, which also hit ports, Job Centres, benefit offices, and emergency police call centres.

Miss Baker said further action could take place if the Government do not enter into further talks.

She added: “We got some very positive reactions in Shipley. I was impressed and surprised.”