The first national strike by council workers since the 1979 Winter of Discontent will cause "severe disruption" to local authority services across the country, union leaders warned.

More than 1.2 million workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will walkout in protest at a 3 per cent pay offer, with further action set to follow.

Unison, the biggest union involved in the dispute, said the stoppage will hit all council services including residential care, social services, education, environmental health, housing, transport, refuse collection, catering and cleaning.