HUNDREDS of public sector workers in Basingstoke joined more than a million employees across the country in a day of strike action on Tuesday.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's offices were effectively shut down for the day as only 133 out of 608 staff turned up for work. More than 74 per cent of employees took part in the protest.

The majority of them joined a noisy picket line from 7.30am underneath the Triumphal Gates, at the end of London Street, Basingstoke.

Three special schools in Basingstoke - Basingstoke School Plus, Limington House School and Maple Ridge School - were also forced to shut for the day as teaching assistants and support staff walked out.

No other schools shut but Basingstoke Library was closed. Peter Hood, secretary of the Unison union branch at the borough council, said: "The number of people on strike today just shows the strength of opinion."

The action was organised by unions in protest against Government plans to change the Local Government Pen-sion Scheme by abolishing rules allowing public sector workers to retire on a full pension when their age plus their length of service adds up to 85 years. This has meant the average retirement age has been 58.

Other public sector workers, including the police, teachers, firefighters and NHS staff, have already gained protection for their pension arrangements.

Waste collection services continued as normal throughout Basingstoke and Deane, but were disrupted in the Hart district.

Clive Green, spokesman for Hart District Council, said: "About 30 staff were on strike out of about 230 here. There was minimal disruption, although waste collection was moved forward a day."

Andy Straker, Unison's regional officer for north Hampshire, said: "The Government is saying we have got to work five more years to get a pension, with no added benefits. It's not acceptable.

"We want them to treat local government workers the same as other public sector workers."

Police support staff and probation officers also joined the picket line.

Linda Roach, Unison representative at Basingstoke pol-ice station, said: "The pensions of the police out in the streets have been protected, but ours, as support staff, have not."

Basingstoke Library was one of 16 of the county's 54 libraries that shut for the day as staff, employed by the county council, joined the mass walkout.

Tory councillor Phil Heath voiced his support for the industrial action. He told The Gazette: "I support what they are trying to do.

"You take a job for three reasons - enjoyment, financial benefit and pension.

"Public sector workers opted for a job that gives them a certain amount of enjoyment and money and these pension rights that they are able to finish at 60 - that is the contract they entered into."