ELGAR Technology College will be completely closed when teachers walk out on Thursday in a row over pay.

The Worcester high school, which has more than 850 pupils on roll, is one of the latest to be added to a growing list of schools in the county to be affected by the impending strike action.

It is currently the only secondary school in the city that will be closed for the day. Other schools added to the list this week include Kempsey Primary School where there will be a partial closure, Witton Middle School in Droitwich, which will be completely closed, and Wychbold First School, which will be partially closed for the day.

In all there are currently 43 schools in the county that will be either closed or partially closed, according to a list being compiled by Worcestershire County Council.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) are walking out over a below-inflation pay rise offered by the Government. The union wants to see an increase of 4.1 per cent, but the Government is offering 2.45 per cent.

It will be the first national stoppage for 22 years and will affect thousands of pupils in Worcestershire alone.

Residents in Worcestershire have expressed their anger at the strikes. One Worcester News reader wrote on our website: "How much more money do these people want? According to the adverts on the TV teachers happy and well paid. I bet they are paid more than the average working person."