PICKETS hope to shut down council buildings and schools across County Durham and Darlington on Wednesday.

The first national pay strike by local government unions Unison, GMB and the TGWU, since 1989 is in support of a 6pc pay claim. The unions have rejected a 3pc offer.

Teesdale District Council has already announced the closure of Teesdale Sports Centre, the tourist information centre and the office at the depots at Stainton Grove. It is also advising people who usually have a refuse collection not to put out their black sacks on that day.

Teesdale House and Enterprise House will be open, but a full range of services is not guaranteed.

Alan Docherty, Unison secretary at Darlington Town Hall, said about 2,000 union members would be involved throughout the borough.

"It will be across the board - engineers, planners, technicians, IT, clerks, bin men, school dinner ladies, teaching assistants, social services, car park attendants and staff in the Dolphin and arts centres. We will be picketing and hope to close a lot of schools."

But the unions were allowing emergency cover for vulnerable people.

"We have also agreed to allow a cremation to take place that day," he added.

"We hope it will be a bit like a Christmas holiday, with everything shut except for the emergency services.

"Basically, the Government needs to give councils more cash. We have a lot of low-paid staff who work overtime for nothing to ensure services are provided."

Barry Keel, Darlington Council chief executive, said: "We anticipate a number of people will work and we will do all we can to support them.

"Our aim is to keep services running and minimise disruption for the people in Darlington."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said yesterday it was waiting the outcome of a Unison meeting before making any announcements.