DOZENS of Hyndburn schools may be forced to close next Thursday because of a teachers’ strike.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) voted three-to-one in favour of industrial action after the Government announced an under-inflation pay increase of 2.45 per cent.

Bob Allonby, secretary of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NUT, said: "To create a first-class education service for the benefit of our children, we need to make sure that teachers receive proper, professional pay levels.

"We expect a lot from our teachers – dedication, commitment, and long working hours. The least they should expect from the Government is fair pay for their work."

He added that strike action was a last resort and the NUT was willing to talk to the Government at any time.

Lancashire County Council said decisions about school closures would be made by individual headteachers on the day.

Bob Flood, head of Norden High School and Sports College, Rishton, said: "Obviously we are hoping the issue will be resolved but if it isn’t we will address the situation as and when.

"We will look at how much of the school we can keep open based on staff levels and try to keep classes studying for examinations running."

Moorhead Sports College’s headteacher Andrew Bateman said a similar plan was in place at his school.

He said: "We have not been able to do a survey of the numbers who might be on strike because it is half-term but we will do so early next week. Obviously we want to keep the school open for as many students as possible."

Nicola Trayner, headteacher of Woodnook Primary School in Accrington, said: "We will be open as usual.

"None of my staff members is striking to my knowledge."

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, Cabinet member for children and young people, said: "In the event that a school has to close, it will be the parents’ responsibility to look after their children, as they would on any other day they were out of school."

There are around 6,500 members of the NUT in Lancashire alone and nearly 200,000 nationwide.