Eight Bradford schools were closed yesterday as strike action by council workers, pictured, hit services across the district.

Unions claimed the action over pay by Bradford Council workers was supported by 90 per cent of local authority workers in the area. Members of Unison, the GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union walked out along with about 750,000 workers throughout the country, in the first national local government workers strike for 22 years.

They voted in favour of industrial action after rejecting a pay offer of three per cent from employers, calling for an increase of six per cent.

Some support staff in schools took part in the strike, meaning eight were forced to close their doors because the lack of staff meant they could not guarantee the safety of pupils. Barkerend Primary School, Undercliffe Primary and Lidget Green Primary were all shut, along with five special schools - Temple Bank, Branshaw, Greenfield, Wedgwood and Lister Lane.

A variety of other services were affected by the strike - including benefits, transport, environmental health and leisure.

Liz Devlin, Unison joint branch chairman, said in the cleansing department there had been 100 per cent support for the action, with no bins emptied or streets cleaned.

"I am delighted with the support that we have had because I think it sends and clear message to the employers that our members are worth more."

Members of the National Union of Teachers were also said to have refused to cover for striking support staff over lunchtime at schools across Bradford.

Ms Devlin said further strikes were planned for August if employers did not come back with an acceptable offer. She addressed a rally attended by several hundred striking workers in Bradford city centre, along with other union leaders.

Terry Patton, of the GMB, said: "We are not attacking the public of Bradford, this is simply about pay. We have got a right to pay rises and we are no different from the rest of the public services."

A spokesman for Bradford Council said they were making every effort to ensure essential services were maintained and keeping disruption to a minimum.