Gerry Storin, a shop steward pickets outside Edinburgh City Chambers

Dozens of schools as well as leisure centres, museums and libraries have been closed or otherwise affected.

Pickets with placards were highly visible Edinburgh council buildings, with an increased traffic due to some local bus services joining the strike.

Union officials said Tuesday's strike was "successful".

Speaking as he walked past a picket line outside the City Arts Centre in Market Street, Edinburgh, and stepping over uncollected rubbish on the street, John Stevenson, Unison's Edinburgh chairman, said the mood of his members was one of anger.

He said: "No doubt the strike has been successful in Edinburgh. I have been out since 0645 GMT with a car full of placards but I haven't needed to hand them out as everyone has been very well prepared.

Scottish Parliament

"There has been a feeling of quiet solidarity and there haven't been many who have crossed the picket lines.

"Also normally I would have had calls from members saying they have had trouble on the picket lines but I have not received even one call."

He added that taking letters and a petition to ministers at the Scottish Parliament "went very well this morning".

Union members take letters to ministers at the Parliament

"An overall view of the day has been of support with no trouble, which has been quite surprising as usually we at least get some comments from the public," he said.

Despite hundreds of drivers being caught in traffic jams across the capital on the way to work, the traffic on the Forth Road Bridge was flowing without major delays, according to the bridge operators and police.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said traffic had been heavier throughout Edinburgh.

A total of five secondary schools, 20 primaries and 15 early years centres and nurseries closed due to the strike with a further 10 secondary schools, 22 primaries and five early year centres and nurseries partially shut.

In Midlothian six nurseries, 35 primary and six secondary schools closed and two special schools shut.

Thirteen nurseries closed and five secondary schools partially shut in West Lothian.

In East Lothian all six secondary schools opened, as did the 35 primary schools.

A third of schools in Fife remained open, mainly in the East Neuk.