In Britain thousands of schools, libraries and leisure centres closed on Tuesday and transport links were halted as local government workers staged a 24-hour strike over pensions in what trade unions billed the biggest single stoppage in the country since the General Strike of 1926.

All bus and rail services were at a standstill in Northern Ireland, while the Mersey tunnels in Liverpool and the Metro on Tyneside were closed. Subway systems in Glasgow and Edinburgh also halted as unions reported that more than 1m workers had joined the strike.

Claims that the strike had caused widespread disruption, however, were disputed by the Local Government Association, representing employers, which said only a ?small minority? of councils had been affected.

The strike was called after ministers backed plans to end a rule allowing council employees to retire on full pensions at 60 provided their age and years of service added up to 85. Unions have threatened to halt local elections in May as part of a rolling programme of stoppages.