Workers from Cheshire County and Chester City councils walked out yesterday in protest at the Government's decision to offer a 2.45 per cent pay increase.

Last night Labour councillors refused to cross a picket line outside the Town Hall and did not attend the full council meeting at 6.30pm.

Two city schools, Hoole CE Primary and special school Dee Banks in Huntington, have also been closed as support and administration staff joined the picket line.

Special school Capenhurst Grange in Ellesmere Port and St Saviours RC Infant in Great Sutton was also closed, as were four other schools around Cheshire. The move also closed libraries across the area including Chester, Hoole, Lache, Blacon and Frodsham.

Council services are expected to return to normal tomorrow.

More than 500,000 Unison members working in local government across England, Wales and Northern Ireland brought schools and council services to a standstill on the first day of the strike.