Biggest strike for 30 years as millions walk out

Millions of public sector workers walked out today as Britain was hit by its biggest strike since the Winter of Discontent more than 30 years ago.

Teachers, council workers, NHS staff and civil servants walked out in protest over government changes to their pensions which they say will force them to retire later and pay more.

In Shropshire, thousands of families were plunged into chaos as more than 160 county schools closed, forcing parents to make alternative arrangements for childcare or take the day off work.

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Non-emergency appointments were cancelled at the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury hospitals.

Unions said early indications were that the walkout was being solidly supported. An estimated 1,000 Shropshire Council staff had joined the action, the authority said. Telford & Wrekin Council said it was too early to say how many workers were on strike.

But George Osborne urged unions to resume negotiations as he dismissed today's 24-hour strike by millions of public sector workers as 'futile'.

The Chancellor said the walkout would not 'achieve or change' anything.

The industrial action could cost the economy an estimated £500 million, the Government has said, with Mr Osborne claiming the action was not going to solve anything, but would 'damage the economy' and cause job losses.

"It is only going to make our economy weaker and potentially cost jobs," he said.