RESIDENTS of Worcestershire are being urged not to panic over essential council services being affected by a strike next week.

Public sector unions recently balloted for a national walkout on Tuesday, March 28.

It is expected more than 6,000 staff locally will not go into work on that day. They include people who work in schools, libraries and social services and those who provide everyday facilities such as rubbish collections.

But two local authorities have reassured people that every effort is being taken to ensure it is business as usual.

Kenny Brown, head of human resources for Worcestershire County Council, said: "We hope that national negotiations will continue to try and resolve the pensions issue. However, if the threatened strike action takes place, we will ensure that plans are there to minimise the impact it has on the services we provide, with priority given to protecting vulnerable people."

Likewise, Wychavon District Council managing director Jack Hegarty said: "Customers can rest assured that there will be enough cover in each department to operate as normal."

The strike has been organised by a number of unions, the biggest of which is Unison.

The dispute has arisen over a plan to end the so-called rule of 85. This allows council employees to retire on a work pension from 60 onwards if their age and years of service add up to at least 85.

Employers want to phase this out by the year 2013 to plug a hole in the pension fund. But Worcester city councillor Adrian Gregson, the Unison branch secretary for Worcestershire, did not believe this was fair.

He said: "We want the Govern-ment to treat us in the same way they have treated other public sector workers. Elsewhere, all existing members are protected, and we want the same.

"We hope the strike will hugely disrupt everyday life. We aim to close schools, libraries and there will be little, if any, social care.

"And this is only the first day of what we expect will be a series of industrial actions."