LOCAL teachers are to be balloted for strike action over Government plans to cut their pension entitlements.

Leaders of the largest teachers' union, the NUT, are asking staff to support a one-day stoppage in April in protest at moves to raise their normal pension age from 60 to 65.

The union says that teachers will lose tens of thousands of pounds unless they work until they are 65. For example, a teacher aged 25, retiring at 60 under the new scheme, would lose more than £60,000 over their lifetime.

Helen Andrews, secretary of Bury NUT, said: "The physical and mental demands of teaching are such that very few teachers are fit enough to continue beyond 60.

"The Government is not listening to teachers and other public service workers about the injustice of its proposals. I want members to support a one-day strike."

She added: "The NUT, the other teachers' organisations and the public service unions have worked hard to persuade the Government to withdraw its proposals. But, so far, it has refused to budge."