HUNDREDS of civil servants went out on strike this week as part of a row over pay and appraisals.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working in the Department for Work and Pensions walked out on Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of what they say is a below-inflation pay offer of a 2.6 per cent rise and the introduction of a new appraisal system.

Union chiefs claimed that over the two-day strike period about 800 people from Jobcentre Plus, the pension service, disability and carers service, corporate services and the Child Support Agency in Preston were involved.

Howard Wilkson, secretary of Preston branch of PCS, said: "There will have been a big disruption to the answering of calls on enquiry line at disability and carers service."

This service is based at Red Rose House, Palatine House, and Dutchy House, all in the city centre.

"We are calling for a pay increase of eight percent or £1,000 which ever is the least, and for a re-think of the appraisal system."

But a spokesperson for the DWP said: "The pay rise is worth an average of five per cent and for some junior frontline staff it is worth between eight and nine percent."

Mr Wilkson claimed that under the previous appraisal system staff could be awarded any grade, but under the new system quotas will apply so that some staff may be forced to receive a lower grade than they actually achieved.

A spokesperson for the DWP said that the appraisal system is fair and recognises each individuals performance.