Schools, health and council services across Hyndburn suffered severe disruption on Wednesday, with trade unions striking over proposed pension scheme changes.

Unison predicted up to 5,000 Hyndburn public sector workers joined the TUC strike.

A total of 167 schools across Lancashire were confirmed shut, including 18 across Hyndburn, and that number was predicted to rise throughout Wednesday.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Royal Blackburn and Burnley Hospitals, said striking employees impacted on services. Patients were contacted in advance to cancel appointments, and asked to reconsider before attending A&E or dialling 999.

Tim Ellis, east Lancashire Unison spokesman, said: "The government are asking us to pay more, work longer and get less. There has been an exceptional response from health staff and public servants to disputing the pension proposals."

Scheduled waste collections in the borough were expected to be carried out and residents were asked to present their refuse and recycling containers as usual.

All Hyndburn council offices were also closed except the cemeteries office.

There were picket lines outside Accrington town hall, Accrington Victoria Hospital, and council offices on Cannon Street and outside Scaitcliffe House, where there were demonstrations from both Unison and the TUC. Other unions joined large regional rallies, including in Preston and Blackburn.

Dozens of protesters picketed this morning at around a dozen locations throughout the borough with many starting at 7am.

Steve Watson, Hyndburn branch secretary of Unison, said they were fighting for the future of local government and not just their pensions.

He said: "The government are saying we are still in negotiations but we have been for months and they haven't moved. The argument that we have called this strike too soon is wrong.

"What the government is talking about is attacks on public service workers. The increases aren't going into the pension pot but to reducing the deficit."

Martin Spencer, a contact centre worker in Accrington Town Hall, said he 'completely and utterly' disagrees with the government changes.

He said: "It's the biggest strike ever and it just goes to show don't mess with our pensions."

Katy Morley, a tree officer, picketing outside council offices on Willows Lane, accused the government of 'nicking' their pensions.

She said: "We have £140 billion in funds and we are already cash rich. We contribute to it so why should we contribute more? We have signed a contract and they are going back on that."

John O'Rourke, who works in the council's parks department, said he would 'never get to see' his pension.

Lancashire County Council was expecting many services to operate at below normal levels with disruption across the board to its services, which include nurseries and libraries.

Phil Halsall, chief executive, said: "We have made contingency plans at a local level to ensure essential county council services are provided."

Bob Allonby, secretary of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Association of the National Union of Teachers, said: "This Government has, once again, refused to listen to the growing anger about proposed changes to public sector pensions.

"This is an unacceptable and shameful way of conducting negotiations. The Government has given us, and the other unions taking part, no other option."

Education secretary Michael Gove has accused union leaders of wanting "scenes of industrial strife".

He added: "They want to make economic recovery harder - they want to provide a platform for confrontation just when we all need to pull together."

Reporters Jonathan Macpherson and Kate Watkins sent live strike updates from across the area this morning. Click on the grey box below to replay their coverage ...