EMERGENCY nannies are being snapped up in Worcestershire as parents struggle to make arrangements because of tomorrow's strike action by teachers.

Amanda Linington of Tinies @ Three Counties in Malvern said there had been a fivefold increase in enquiries for temporary nannies to look after their children for the day.

Most are from working parents who have been unable to take time off from work or find friends or family to look after their children.

She said: "We are finding it hard to meet demand for a one-off day. We have about 20 extra temporary nannies out on bookings this Thursday.

"For many parents they have only just finished the Easter holidays so it is hard for them to take more time off work. A lot of people don't have family nearby so they are coming to us for emergency childcare."

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) will walk out in a row over a proposed 2.45 per cent pay increase. They will be joined by members of the University and College Union (UCU), which has also announced it will take industrial action tomorrow.

The NUT strike will affect 43 schools in the county, 12 of which will be completely closed, while the UCU strike will see lecturers at Worcester College of Technology walk out.

Worcester College of Technology's UCU branch chairman, Bryn Griffiths, said: "Sadly, local lecturers feel they have no option but to go on strike. We have put up with longer teaching hours, bigger classes and pointless inspections for far too long.

"Stress is an identified problem here. Unless we get pay somewhere close to school teachers it is difficult to see where the lecturers of the future will come from."

In January, UCU, together with other further education unions, submitted a joint 2008-9 pay claim for a six per cent increase or £1,500, whichever is the greater. Unions are set to meet employers on Thursday, May 1, to discuss this.

Members are expected to picket the main college buildings tomorrow.


For a full list of schools affected by tomorrow's strike click here