COUNCIL offices were closed and bins were not emptied as city and county council workers went out on strike.

And local people can expect the same again if another proposed one day walk-out takes place next month.

Lancaster City claims that approximately 55 per cent of its staff took part in the action last Wednesday.

That left several council offices closed, though Salt Ayre sports centre and Lancaster Market remained open.

The council also implemented contingency plans to keep essential services with an impact on health and safety running.

However, refuse collection was affected.

The council had hoped to cover Wednesday's rounds on Thursday, with Saturday used to catch up.

However, union members here, as in other parts of the country, refused to work the overtime.

Negotiations between the three unions involved in the action and the national negotiating group set up by local authorities are continuing.

However, councils have been told that workers will walk out again on Wednesday, August 14.

The city council says it expects to suffer similar levels of disruption should further action go head.

Householders would again face a week long wait to have their refuse removed.

The GMB, Unison and the TGWU are still calling for a six per cent pay rise and a minimum increase of £1,700 for the lowest paid workers.

Employers are offering three per cent.

Unison's local government secretary said: "Our door remains firmly open but the employers must be in no doubt that something significant has to come from them to prevent this action."