HUNDREDS of schools across the North-East and North Yorkshire will close on Tuesday as a result of the biggest strike for 80 years.

The industrial action by the union members will see many school staff walk out of work for the day - resulting in the closure of about half the schools in the region.

The strike is being planned by public service union Unison, in protest at changes to the local government pension scheme.

It is one of a series of planned strikes aimed at crippling services across the country.

In Durham, about 150 out of 300 schools have already said they will close for the day.

In Darlington, six primaries and a special school will close and a further 11 schools will either be closed to some year groups of pupils, or closed in the afternoon.

North Yorkshire County Council said nine schools would be closed, more would be partially closed and meals would be disrupted at a further 19 schools.

In Hartlepool, all but two schools will close; in Stockton, 36 will close all day and one will close in the afternoon; in Hartlepool 38 out of 40 schools will be closed; 36 schools are affected in Redcar and Cleveland; and in Middlesbrough, 24 schools will close.

In Gateshead, only seven schools have said they will remain open.

And a spokeswoman for Newcastle City Council said of its 100 schools, it expected most would be shut.

Sunderland City Council did not respond to The Northern Echo's request for information.

Schools are being affected because many school staff - for example, catering staff, playground assistants and support staff are members of Unison.

Museums, galleries, libraries, sport and leisure services, refuse collections and other public services may also be affected.

The Tyne Tunnel will be closed to traffic from 11pm on Monday until 11pm on Tuesday.

Emergency vehicles and scheduled buses will be allowed through the tunnel. The pedestrian and cyclist tunnels will remain open.

Durham County Council's head of human resources, Kim Jobson, said: "It is too early to say exactly what the full impact of any industrial action will be, but inevitably county council services will be disrupted.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this disruption may cause but we expect to return to normal business on Wednesday," she added.