COUNCIL services in the area were disrupted when workers took industrial action as part of a national strike.

Wigan Council tried to provide emergency cover and obtained exemptions from the unions to allow staff in key services to continue working.

These included cemetery and crematoria operations, emergency social services, emergency alarm calls and the Careline system for the elderly.

As binmen joined the strike it is unlikely household bins were emptied yesterday. Those whose bins were left are advised bins that will NOT be collected the following day, but that the service will continue as normal from next Wednesday.

Other council facilities expected to be disrupted were libraries, sports centres and swimming baths, but it was thought schools would be unaffected as teachers were not involved in the dispute.

A council spokesman said: "We regret the inconvenience this caused to our residents, but it was a national dispute and the Wigan borough, like everywhere else, was unlikely to escape the effects."