FRONTLINE services are expected to be hit hard when more than 1,000 Hillingdon Council workers walk out in a row over pay.

The strike action, which will include teachers, refuse collectors and carers, will be part of a nationally co-ordinated 48-hour industrial action.

Council workers will be demonstrating in a picket line at the Civic Centre in High Street, Uxbridge, on Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17.

This follows the Government's offer of an increase of 2.45 per cent, which was rejected by Unison, the union for local authorities. Staff are holding out for a pay rise of six per cent.

Stuart Barber, regional officer for West London said: "We're urging the local MP and Tory councillors to urge the national employers, many of whom are Tories, to re-open negotiations and to prevent a damaging strike which will have a bad impact on services."

Anne Mitchell, a spokeswoman for Unison, said: "For the last 10 years the pay rise has been consistently under the rate of inflation. An increase of 2.45 per cent is just not acceptable when you consider the rising costs of everything with the cost of fuel, energy and food going up, local government workers are struggling to meet the daily costs of living.

She explained that 75 per cent of people working in local goverment are women, of which 60 per cent earn £15,000 or less, such as teaching assistants and dinner ladies.

Christopher Neale, director of finance and resources at Hillingdon Council said: "Hillingdon Council have not yet been given formal notification of industrial action, although with the national announcements we have begun contingency planning for two days of strike action on July 16 and 17. This may involve a number of council staff.

"We hope to be able to provide more details to the public of the expected impact on services as early as possible before the strike action to minimise any disruption to services."