THE clock is ticking towards a potentially crippling walkout by thousands of workers in a dispute over pensions.

Ahead of the planned 24 hour strike next Tuesday, House of Commons leader Geoff Hoon urged unions to negotiate with employers to stave off the action.

About a million members of the local government pension scheme, represented by nine unions, including Unison, the GMB, and the Transport and General Workers Union, have already voted to down tools.

Services hit in the region on the day could include:

* Schools, colleges and universities;

* Refuse collections;

* Community centres, libraries and sports centres;

* Housing offices.

Transport operator Nexus has said the Tyne and Wear Metro and the Tyne Tunnel will have to close.

Blaydon MP David Anderson told a Commons debate that the country could be "hit by the biggest strike since 1926".

Last night, Charlie Syme, a member of Unison's regional management team and a spokesman on pensions, said 60,000 of its members in the North-East were expected to be on strike.

He warned that huge swathes of infrastructure would be shut down and the effect on services would be like that on Christmas Day.

The action has been provoked by proposed changes to the local government pension scheme amid a Government bid to increase the retirement age from 60.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said: "We are intending to maintain as many services as possible, to ensure any vulnerable members of the community are not put at risk, essential services are maintained and there is minimum disruption to the local community.

"However, at present the full extent of the effect of the strike action is not clear."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: "We are having discussions with the unions involved and we will try and keep essential services running."