School caretakers, caterers, classroom assistants and other support staff are part of a strike by 1.2 million local government workers.

The workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have walked out in protest at a 3% pay offer, saying they want a 6% rise.

The move has led some head teachers with no option but to close their schools.

Graham Lane, Labour education chairman of the Local Government Association, said the picture was "very patchy" but a "substantial number" of schools were closed.

The fact that the summer term was drawing to an end may have persuaded some heads against trying to keep their schools open at all costs, Mr Lane said.

Varied picture

The number of schools affected varies across the country, with some local education authorities reporting dozens of closures and others claiming minimal disruption.

In Cardiff at least 65 schools were expected to close and in Swansea, only four were expected to open.

At least 28 schools in Birmingham were expected to shut for the day and Leeds local education authority said 40 primary schools and nine secondaries would be closed.

In Somerset, though, LEA officials expected all its mainstream schools to open as usual.

And few councils in the home counties were expecting schools to close.

Buckinghamshire and Surrey county councils said their local negotiated pay and conditions settlements meant the national dispute did not affect them.

Schools in Bracknell Forest in Berkshire were expected to be "fully operational" and Reading Borough Council did not expect schools to be significantly affected.

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