SERVICES provided by East Lancashire Job Centres and benefit offices were set for disruption today as civil servants went on strike.

But a spokeswoman for the Department of work and Pensions today moved to quash people's fears that they may not get their benefits.

Almost 100,000 workers in three government departments nationwide were due to walk out for 48 hours in a long-running row over pay.

Prison Service workers and staff at the Office for National Statistics were also striking but the biggest walkout will hit the Department for Work and Pensions which has been embroiled in a row over pay.

It will be the worst affected as it wants to introduce performance related pay for its workers -- a dispute which could end in up in the courts.

The spokeswoman said: "We do not know exactly how many people will be joining the strikes in East Lancashire but we are hopeful we will be able to keep all our Jobcentre Pluses open and hope that our customers will be able to receive all benefits.

"We are counting on employees that are not striking to deliver these services. People should carry on going to Job Centres in the region as normal. We are in constant dialogue over the issue of pay and we want to resolve this as soon as possible."

The Department for Work and Pensions pointed out that in February when there was a similar strike they managed to keep 90 per cent of Jobcentre Pluses open.