STRIKING staff at Wychavon District Council manned a picket line in support of a pay claim on Wednesday.

The staff of UNISON staged a one-day strike yesterday as part of a national dispute after rejecting a three per cent pay offer.

Almost half of the 300-strong Wychavon workforce and Worcestershire County Council staff who work in the Evesham area were affected by the dispute.

A picket line was in place in the morning near the Civic Centre in Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore.

"We want to continue to give the people of Wychavon quality services but these need to be matched with quality pay for the staff who provide them," said Wychavon Branch Secretary Fred Davies. "Unison members all over the country feel so strongly about this issue that they're prepared to lose a day's pay to secure to a decent salary for all local government workers."

Worcestershire branch secretary Adrian Gregson said it was the first time in its history that the union has called a strike.

He said 3,000 members worked in the county's local government and the aim has been to disrupt services from schools, libraries, administrative offices and other areas to try and get back to the negotiating table.

"Over 277,000 council workers earn less than £5 an hour," he said.

"We want to raise people's awareness and we've done all we can so far through negotiations."

He said cover would be provided in social services to make sure vulnerable people were not affected.

Wychavon managing director Sid Pritchard said the council put plans in place to maintain a reasonable level of service during the one-day strike yesterday.