PROBATION staff are going on strike because of 'over excessive' workloads -- two weeks after bosses hailed them as 'remarkable' for what they did.

They will walk out for one day on January 29 and stick strictly to their contracted hours for the foreseeable future.

Lancashire Probation Board's chief officer John Crawforth praised the staff at the end of December by thanking them for their remarkable work and exemplary commitment.

He was commenting after the release of its annual report, which said the service was performing well and committed to continuous improvement to protect the public and reduce crime.

But unhappiness at workloads has been building up across the country for three years, said probation union NAPO. It claimed staff had 50 per cent more work to do than 10 years ago, while staffing levels had only increased by 10 per cent.

NAPO said workers had been given too many extra tasks, such as youth offender work, drug treatment orders and intensive group work.

In September, the union asked management to take steps to safeguard staff by monitoring workloads and setting aside tasks in busy periods.

But NAPO said it organised a ballot after receiving no assurances about the proposals.

Members duly voted two to one in favour of strike action in a 55 per cent turnout.

NAPO representative Harry Fletcher said: "This action is regrettable but we see no alternative.

"Matters will be made worse by next year's budget, which is at best standstill.

"Nevertheless, the union is more than willing to continue talking to management to reach a satisfactory resolution."

The Lancashire service employs more than 500 people who have around 5,723 offenders under their supervision at any one time.