North east Wales has been seriously disrupted by a 24-hour staff walkout after council workers decided to strike in a row over pay.

The majority of schools in Denbighshire and Flintshire have been closed and council operations including rubbish collections, leisure centres, libraries, cemeteries, and day centres for the elderly have all been seriously affected.

Refuse collection will be affected by the strike

Wednesday's industrial action is the first by local authority workers in Britain since the 'winter of discontent' in 1979.

Members of the UK's biggest union Unison, the Transport and General Workers Union(TGWU) and GMB are campaigning for a better pay deal.

Workers have been offered a three per cent pay increase but it has been rejected.

Staff, some of whom earn �4.80 an hour, are seeking a rise of six per cent.

The majority of female workers earn less than �5 an hour

Mike O'Leary TGWU

Two-thirds of the workforce earn less per year than the average �12,000 allowance paid to council leaders.

Picket lines have formed outside council buildings by union members demanding a better deal.

Mike O'Leary from the TGWU said workers are worth more than they are being offered.

"The majority of female workers earn less than �5 an hour, our members cannot survive on that wage.

"We're hoping common sense will prevail."

He added: "The public have been very supportive, one Wrexham solicitor brought us coffee on the picket line."

Close schools

Steve Jenkins from Unison said his members had reached the end of the road: "People are fed up with the low pay they have to tolerate in local government."

With many ancillary workers staying away, a number of Headteachers were forced to close their schools.

Ten high schools have been closed in Flintshire.

In Denbighshire, Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn in Denbigh and Ysgol Tir Morfa in Rhyl were open as normal.

Schools in Wrexham are all open

Both are special schools.

Denbighshire County Council decided to close its secondary and primary schools over health and safety concerns.

Council chiefs said they could not guarantee basic services such as school meals and transport to school would be provided for youngsters.

Chief Executive Ian Miller said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to the public by the strike action.

"Essential services such as home care and our residential care homes are operating normally."

He added: "We also have cover in place for emergencies."

Schools across north east Wales have been open for teaching staff.

Denbighshire County Council said pay will be deducted from those who fail to arrive.

The one day strike is to be followed by further industrial action during the summer.