About 30 strikers are picketing outside Mid Sussex District Council's offices at Oaklands in Haywards Heath to protest at a 2.45 per cent pay offer rejected by their union Unison.

Fiona Roberts, a Unison officer for the south east region, said: "Sixty-six per cent of local authority workers are women and they, effectively, are going to face a pay cut because of the rate of inflation and rise in food and fuel prices."

Council worker Mark Anderson, who earns £16,000 per year, added: " I have two small children and a partner who works for the council part-time. We won't be having a holiday this year and it's getting difficult to pay the mortgage. But we're lucky my mother looks after the children. I don't know how people can afford to meet rising childcare costs."

Other people taking strike include school dinner ladies, classroom assistants, architects and refuse collectors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Oathall Community College is closed today and tomorrow and Albourne C.E Primary School is closed to Year 4 pupils on both days, and closed to reception class pupils tomorrow afternoon.

West Sussex County Council has agreed exemptions with Unison so that vulnerable people who are looked after by care workers will receive their usual services.