HUNDREDS of public sector workers walked out on strike in Bolton.

About 400,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Unite and the University and Colleges Union (UCU) took part nationally in the protest against government pension plans.

Peter Entwistle, treasurer of the Bolton and Bury PCS branch, warned larger strikes — mirroring those last year — could follow later this summer.

Speaking outside the Benefits Office in Bolton yesterday, Mr Entwistle said the public supported the strike.

He said: “There was an excellent turn out. We have 85 per cent of staff stayed out at the Benefits Office. We have been pressurised into this by the Government. We didn’t want to strike.

“We are looking towards future action towards the end of June, a public sector-wide strike with teachers and other unions joining us.

“The public definitely has sympathy with us, especially pensioners.

“The Government is asking us to work longer, pay more and get less.”

About 50 Unite members, including pharmacists and bio-medical engineers, joined the strike at Royal Bolton Hospital.

John Murphy of Unite said: “This strike is not against Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, it is against the Government.

“We are being asked to agree to an average salary pension scheme, but MPs are not prepared to do the same.

“The atmosphere at the protest was very positive and we were supported by other staff at the hospital.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said measures were in place to maintain services and they expected everyone to be able to collect their benefits as normal.

The JobCentres in Blackhorse Street, Bolton, and King Street, Farnworth, were believed to be drafting extra staff in to stay open.

A Court and Tribunals Service spokesman also insisted there were “robust” plans in place which meant courts in Bolton were able to stay open, while the hospital said the impact had been “minimal”.