COURTS across East Lancashire could be severely disrupted next week when staff go on a two-day strike.

Members of the Crown Prosecution Service are holding the strike because of a dispute over their latest pay award.

Although the industrial action will only involve administration staff and not lawyers working for the CPS, it could lead to cases being adjourned.

The strike, planned for Wednesday and Thursday, will hit courts across the region, including the crown courts in Burnley and Preston and the Hyndburn, Blackburn and Burnley magistrates courts.

The staff involved are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and their duties include preparing files for magistrates courts and dealing with witnesses and evidence in the crown courts.

Union members are unhappy at the latest pay deal which they say works out at just 3.3 per cent.

Peter Middleman, assistant secretary of the union, said they were expecting severe disruption over the two days, especially in Burnley, where almost all of the 30 administration staff are expected to walk out.

He said: "Burnley is a real success story for us because it has gone from a very low membership to almost 100 per cent. This will cause severe disruption.

"Eighty-two per cent of our members rejected the pay offer and rather than renegotiate, management's provocative response was to impose the pay deal.

"Their attitude means this dispute is as much about union rights as it is about pay."

Spokesman for the East Lancashire CPS, Glynn Rankin, said courts would still sit as usual despite any disruption.

Mr Rankin added: "The Crown Prosecution Service is very disappointed by the approach taken by the union.

"We believe that any industrial action will only prove detrimental to the changes we are trying to make to improve reward systems in the CPS.

"CPS management will take every opportunity to try to resolve this situation and to minimise any potential disruption that industrial action can cause."