As the dust settles on the hundreds who took part in last week’s strike, council and health bosses insist services struggled on regardless.

Workers from Wilmslow were among millions of public sector workers striking last Wednesday over pension cuts, a later retirement age and pay freezes.

The hardest service hit in the town was waste – with the majority of residents still waiting for their rubbish to be picked up on the next round.

Schools shut, council services stalled and airport passengers faced long delays.

Parents took days off work as most of Wilmslow’s schools shut due to teacher strikes and John Lamond, from the Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce, said the day was likely to have cost the local economy thousands.

But last night the council said overall only a quarter of their staff took part – one of the lowest in the North West.

Chief executive of Cheshire East Council, Erika Wenzel, said: “The day of industrial action naturally put a strain on services but we are pleased to report that despite this, services ran efficiently and complaints were kept to a minimum.

“I would like to thank all staff who attended work in what could have been difficult circumstances. Turning up for work meant that the council was able to continue delivering services, particularly to those who are most vulnerable.”

The call centre at the Information Commissioner’s Office on Water Lane shut down as more than 200 staff walked out.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and First Division Association (FDA) formed a picket line at 7am before joining the rally with 30 unions in Manchester.

They said the one per cent pay cap announced in MP George Osborne’s autumn budget statement yesterday had people even more angry.

Paddy Dillon, branch secretary, said: “Strike action is the only option when the Government refuses to negotiate.

“We’re striking over pensions, an unjust pay freeze and cuts to one in five jobs which will badly damage the services we should all care about.”

Chris Littler, an auditor at ICO, said: “I’m doing this for the younger people, these things have to be protected now.”

Thomas Oppe, 26, said: “It’s the least well-off who are being asked to take massive cuts and it’s unfair.”

Non-urgent treatment was cancelled at Macclesfield Hospital, courts ran a skeleton service and appointments were cut at Wilmslow Job Centre.

UK Border Agency staff walked out at Manchester Airport and pickets formed at the terminals.

Wilmslow Police Station was open but Cheshire Constabulary drafted in help to answer 999 calls and striking officers joined rallies around the region..

Phil Mason, chairman for Cheshire East Unison, said about 40 per cent of the council workforce was on strike and many joined a rally in Crewe.

Paul Dixon, 54, from Handforth, who works for a rail freight company, said: “I support the strike.

“Lower paid public sector workers are taking the brunt of the cuts.”

But a mum of two, whose daughter was off school from Ashdene Primary, said she was against it.

She said: “People have to face the fact that everybody is hit by recession.

“Private companies are closing down final salary pension schemes and the Government has to look at its finances.

“Civil servants have had it too easy for too long and I don't think striking solves anything.

“Parents are struggling to cope with school closures. The biggest losers today are the children.”

Jason Saks, a musician from Wilmslow and dad, said: “The biggest impact is on parents.

“Public sector workers should be in line with everyone else.”

Special arrangements were made at Wilmslow Christmas Festival to coincide with the strikes.