Over a million public sector workers across the UK began a 24-hour strike at midnight to protest against plans to scrap a rule that allows certain people to retire on a full pension aged 60.

Hundreds of schools, libraries and other public services have been forced to close, as well as sports and recreation centres, swimming pools, art galleries and museums.

Unison, one of the unions leading the strike, said the strike is taking place because the government wants to get rid of Rule 85, with only limited protection for existing members. Rule 85, scheduled to be scrapped in April, lets staff retire at 60 if their age, plus years worked, equals 85 or more.

Unison said: “Local Government Pension Scheme members will have to keep working until they are 65, even though they have been paying six per cent of their salary into the pension scheme and planning for their retirement for years.”

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said on the union’s website: “We didn't want to take strike action, but with employers refusing to listen and the government keeping quiet, we have no choice.”