GWENT woke up to a day of widespread disruption today as the council workers' strike all but shut down many local authority services.

Members of UNISON, the GMB and the TGWU were striking in protest at a three per cent pay rise offer. They want an increase of six per cent.

Around the county many services such as refuse collection and support staff in schools were withdrawn completely, or were running at a limited level.

However, all council and union spokesmen were keen to stress that emergency cover is in place and no vulnerable people were being put at risk.

Parents of pupils at schools affected were informed and rubbish that should have been collected today will now be removed next week.

Pickets were set up at all council depots, buildings and centres across Gwent - including the GMB picket of the Penmaen depot near Blackwood supported by Unison members.

Philip Smith, assistant secretary of Unison, said: "We are here to support our colleagues from the GMB. The management condemn us for asking for 6% when councillors have just awarded themselves a 16% rise in their allowances. I think I speak for all the strikers when I say that none of us wanted to take this action. We work to serve the community but we have been driven to this by the refusal of management to compromise."

GMB picketer Ian Harrison, 57, has been a refuse collection driver for 17 years. He said: "Because our pay is so low we have to work a lot of overtime to make up the money to a living wage which affects your family life. We do a good job for the community and I think that they support us."

GMB shop steward Paul Meredith, 49, added: "The three per cent offer is worth virtually nothing to us. It would be a lot on a chief executive's wage but for us it's a couple of pounds a week. At the end of the day we all pay the same for a pint of milk."

Anyone needing to contact their council in an emergency should try the numbers below. Caerphilly: 01443 875500; Torfaen: 01495 766025; Newport: 01633 214222; Monmouthshire: 01633 644644; Blaenau Gwent: 01495 311556.