PARENTS in many parts of West Somerset were forced to take time off work or find extra child care yesterday (Thursday) when seven schools closed as part of a national day of strike action.

Ten local schools remained open despite the industrial action by members of the National Union of Teachers and Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Some 600,000 teachers and civil servants were expected to walk out across the country over Government plans to make them work longer, pay more into their pensions and receive less when they retire.

Locally, St Peter's, Old Cleeve, Knights Templar and Minehead first schools were closed, together with Danesfield and Minehead middle schools and the West Somerset Community College.

Rumours that schools in the Quantock Federation - Danesfield, St Peter's and Old Cleeve - were closed as a result of the loss of just five teachers were dismissed by executive headteacher Ian Bradbury.

He said the figure was "absolutely not true", especially as eight teachers were walking out from Danesfield alone.

"We have got many more than five people walking out and if I can't find the appropriate people to put in front of classes I have no choice but to close the school," Mr Bradbury said.

He said the situation was exacerbated for the middle schools as they were losing specialist staff members who taught across the age groups, rather than set classes.

"I will still be in on Thursday; work will be getting done, meetings are being held, it's just that we won't be able to have the children," he said.

However, it was lessons as usual for youngsters in Cutcombe, Timberscombe, Exford, Dunster, Dulverton, Porlock, Crowcombe and Stogumber, as well as at St Michael's First School in Minehead.

In Wiveliscombe, both the primary school and Kingsmead Community School were closed, although some lessons did go ahead at Milverton Primary School.

Nationally, members of the University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Services Union joined the day of action, while Unison and the National Association of Headteachers both warned they were on the road to industrial action.

The Government has maintained its plans to overhaul the public sector retirement packages are "fair to taxpayers" as well as workers, although union leaders say the changes pose a threat to public services and will lead to reduced pay and job losses.