PUBLIC sector workers in Craven joined Thursday's national strike.

Council staff, teachers and civil servants were protesting about a range of issues including pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts.

The action forced the closure of four local schools - Aireville and Brooklands in Skipton, Cononley Primary and Sutton-in-Craven Community Primary - and the partial closure of five others, including Settle College and Upper Wharfedale.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: "A very small percentage of North Yorkshire’s 380 schools were closed or partially closed; other than that there was very little impact from last week’s strike with only two day centres closed and some 200 (non-schools) staff participating."

A picket was mounted outside council offices in Belle Vue Square, Skipton.

Samia Hussain, corporate head of business support at Craven District Council, said: "Fourteen people were on strike at Craven District Council, but there was no disruption to council services."