STRIKERS formed picket lines in Malvern on Wednes-day as public service union Unison took day-long action over a national pay dispute.

There were small, peaceful picket lines at Malvern Lib-rary, the Council House in Avenue Road and Portland House.

With only 25 per cent of Malvern Hills District Council staff joining the Unison strike, it was Worcestershire County Council services such as social services, schools and libraries, most affected by the absence of about a third of its workforce. Rubbish collections in Malvern were normal.

MHDC assistant chief executive Stephen Leese said it had only been able to offer a limited service in housing benefit claims but otherwise all its offices had been open, including the cash office.

Some services, he added, had set-up emergency numbers in case of problems.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said Unison had made their point quietly and effectively in a very responsible way.

Adrian Gregson, the county's Unison branch secretary, said it was too early to know exact staff numbers involved but he said the strike got "very good support across the country".

"We hope employers will recognise that and come back and negotiate," he said.

"If they don't we will have to ask whether we need to take strike action again. We don't want to disrupt public services but what we have said today is 'this is what we can do, this is the disruption we can make so please come back to the negotiating table'."

Mr Leese said it was unlikely there would be any increase on the existing pay offer because money is not there.

If further strikes do take place, Mr Leese said he felt confident MHDC would be able to maintain services.

Peter Fennell, West Midlands UNISON regional organiser, who joined the picket line at Malvern library, said: "We're simply looking to be treated fairly. There has been a steady erosion in pay for local government workers and they're falling further and further behind."

Unison wants a national six per cent or £1,750 pay rise, whichever is the greater, and has been offered three per cent by local authority employers.

n A spokesman for Herefordshire Council said about 18 per cent of their workers took part in the strike. Several schools, day centres and social services offices had to be shut. The services hit were concentrated in Hereford, Leominster and Ross.