STRIKE action by teachers will cause widespread disruption to schools across Bolton, town hall chiefs have said.

Teachers in Bolton will be among the first in the country to strike as part of a rolling programme of walkouts by members of the National Union of Teachers and NASUWT in a dispute over pensions, pay and conditions.

Union members will strike on June 27, with teachers in Bolton and across the North West taking day-long action.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “It’s likely that this action will cause significant disruption to schools across Bolton.

“The council regret any inconvenience this will cause but the situation is not within their control.

“Headteachers will provide parents with further information as to whether a school or nursery is open.”

Headteachers said there are health and safety issues to consider if teachers at a school walk out.

Simon Bramwell, headteacher of Ss Simon and Jude school in Great Lever, said: “Managing a school in a strike situation is far from simple.

“We would not cover striking colleagues, so as a minimum those classes that should be taught for all or part of the day by striking staff would need to stay at home.

“The difficulty comes when staff do not indicate whether or not they intend to strike or, if the particular school is picketed, whether or not staff will cross picket lines.

“This creates uncertainty and potential health and safety issues.”

He said many heads were sympathetic to the “general tenor of the actions” but would want to provide “uninterrupted education” for their pupils.

Mr Bramwell, who is also the immediate past president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “However, if the majority of your staff are going to be missing there is a balance of risk assessment that needs to be conducted on a school-by-school basis.”

Mr Bramwell added: "The other obligation is to our parents — school strike action hits our parents hard as they struggle to arrange last-minute childcare.

“We therefore need to give them as much notice as possible, which may mean heads making a decision on class or school closures before full facts are known."

He said: “I would always urge any group to try to resolve their differences with the employers, in such a way that it doesn’t impact negatively on children and parents."