Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members took to the picket lines at Norcross, Warbreck and St Annes yesterday at the start of the 48-hour walkout.

Workers taking part in industrial action include court staff, job centre employees, those working at benefit offices, tax centres and the Coastguard, which is still answering emergency call outs. No vital services were affected by the walkout.

Public sector services remained open, although the Coastguard, members of the PCS, did not respond to routine calls.

Fylde coast union chiefs say they are furious about plans by the Government to reduce redundancy compensation, which they believe is a pre-cursor to widespread cuts.

Ian Melvin, branch secretary of the PCS at Norcross, warned the Government's plans could lead to huge job losses.

He said: "The Government is really taking the axe to the compensation prior to making people redundant or transferring people to contractors in the private sector.

"This could have a huge impact on the Fylde coast and around a third of staff could be made redundant in the near future.

"We really are fighting for the economic future of the region because the Government is one of the biggest employers."

FOR THE FULL STORY SEE TUESDAY'S GAZETTE.