Schools shut, council services stalled and airport passengers faced long delays as public sector workers around Wilmslow striked over pensions.

Union members joined two million workers around the country to strike over Government plans to increase pension contributions and make people work longer.

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, has said the day could cost the local economy thousands.

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 for 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 today is on parents.

"Public sector workers should be in line with everyone else."

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

The ice rink on Bank Square opened this morning and Santa's Grotto opened at the Romany Caravan.

Imagine FM are broadcasting from the market from 2pm.

Reporters Charlotte Cox and Karen Britton sent live updates from across the area - click on the grey box below to read them or click here if reading on a mobile device ...

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