EAST Lancashire has been warned to expect job centre closures and disruption to courts when thousands of public sector workers strike this week.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is one of a number of organisations leading action against Government cuts and changes to pensions.

Parents are braced for mass school closures as thousands of teachers and lecturers stay away from work on Thursday in walkouts led by teaching unions.

Meanwhile, the PCS wave of strikes will close East Lancashire’s job centres and see picket lines outside magistrates’ courts.

The action does not affect councils, or council services.

PCS spokesman Martin Kelsey said: “We envisage a significant impact on job centres in particular and we expect them to have to close on Thursday.

“But we are keen to stress that we are not targeting the people that use these services. It is unfortunate that will be the case, but the Government is looking at sacking people and changing people’s pensions.”

Although some court staff will protest on Thursday, the PCS does not expect the buildings to have to close.

Other offices in Lancashire affected by the strikes will be those run by the Ministry of Defence, HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency.

Up to 43,000 public sector workers in the North West could take part in the walkouts, the PCS said.

Education workers’ unions, led by the NUT and ATL, have predicted that every East Lancashire school will be forced to close on Thursday as teachers stay away.

The University and College Union is also leading action at further education colleges and the University of Central Lancashire’s Burnley campus But headteachers in East Lancashire are working to ens-ure schools do not close fully.

Many are opting for partial closure, with important year groups, such as Year 10, to attend school as normal on Thursday.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy plans to open for students in years 7, 8 and 12, but will close earlier than normal.

Shuttleworth College, Padiham, headteacher Martin Burgess said: “There will be a partial closure of the school, with year eight and nine being kept at home all day.

"Year 10 will be coming in so they can get extra GCSE tuition.”