PUPILS have been told to stay away from around half of the region's schools tomorrow as teachers walk out over pay and pensions.

More than 500 schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire have so far confirmed they will close or partially close for the industrial action.

Striking teachers from the National Union of Teachers and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will be joined by lecturers from the University and College Union. Disruption is expected at least 16 North-East colleges and three universities.

Up to 25,000 North-East members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will join the strike action, causing disruption for courts, ports, jobcentres and government agencies throughout the region.

Union members claim the Government wants them to work longer and pay more for less reward.

Talks with ministers on Monday ended without an agreement being reached.

Lawson Armstrong, senior regional official for the ATL union, said teachers were not taking the strike action lightly.

He said: "Educating our pupils is the most important aspect of our working life.

"We take action to protect the quality of education in the North-East, because if the Government's proposals go through teachers will drop out of the pension scheme, potentially making it unviable.

"Teaching will become a less attractive profession and it will ultimately be pupils who suffer."

Nigel Jessop, from PCS Stockton revenue network branch, added: "No-one's job, benefit, pension, college course, pay packet or public service in any less important than anyone else's, and we refuse to be forced to choose between 'good' cuts and 'bad' cuts."

Teachers and lecturers are expected to form picket lines from 8am.

They will then assemble at 11.30am at Newcastle's Times Square, before marching through the city centre to Grey's Monument for a rally at 1pm.

In Middlesbrough, union members will assemble at 11.30am at the Bottle of Notes sculpture, in Central Square, before marching to the town centre for a rally at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Newport Road at 12.15pm.

A rally will be held in Parliament Street, York, at noon.