THE biggest strike in 80 years could bring the region to a halt, union leaders warned last night.

Across the North-East 75,000 workers are expected to strike today, closing schools, libraries and sports centres, and halting burials.

The worst-affected areas in the region are likely to be Tyneside and Wearside, where the Tyne Tunnel will be shut to all but emergency services and some buses, and the Metro system will be closed all day. Council-run car parks in Newcastle will also shut.

Every school in Newcastle and Sunderland will be closed and only seven out of 92 schools in Gateshead will open. Across the region more than 600 schools will be shut.

The strike, led by Unison, is the biggest bout of industrial action since the General Strike of 1926.

Up to 1.5 million workers across the UK could be involved in the protest at changes to the Local Government pension Scheme.

Unison has been locked in negotiations with the Government for 18 months over plans to change the pension scheme so some members will have to work longer.

The Government has said that council taxpayers cannot keep unduly supporting the scheme.

Last night, Charlie Syme, Unison's North-East regional organiser, said the strike would cause major disruption.

"This is not what we want to see but, unfortunately, we have no other way of bringing this to the attention of the public," he said.

Last night, Andrew Sugden, policy director of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, criticised the walkout, saying: "It is the ordinary man and woman on the street that will be hit hardest.

"It's a triple blow for them. They face transport havoc trying to get to work, parents will have to take unscheduled holiday to care for kids because schools are shutting for the day and, if the strike is successful, they face higher taxes to pay for pension rights that they themselves will not enjoy."

Pickets will be outside Durham Police headquarters at Aykley Heads, Durham City, where about 600 civilian staff are expected to strike.

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said: "Contingency plans, including the re-organisation of rest days, have been put in place to make sure there are sufficient police officers to provide cover."

There will be some demonstrations outside local authority buildings that are staying open.

Last night, Alan Docherty, of Darlington Unison, said Darlington Borough Council was putting children at risk by encouraging schools to stay open despite many support staff striking.

But a council spokeswoman said: "The decision on whether to close schools rests with the headteachers, who are well-placed to decide whether or not they are staffed sufficiently to ensure a safe environment for their pupils to be educated."

There will be a protest in Newcastle at about 11.30am, when up to 800 workers are expected to march from the Quayside to the Monument.