Council staff in Hart and Rushmoor have started a two-day strike over pay, hitting public services hard.

The Unison strike will close schools and libraries and severely disrupt rubbish collections.

About 30 Unison members took part in pickets outside Rushmoor Borough Council's offices and leisure centres on Wednesday morning.

Ten members staged a peaceful protest outside Hart District Council’s Springwell Lane waste disposal depot in Hartley Wintney at 5.45am, before moving on to the authority’s Fleet headquarters.

The Unison action comes after members rejected a 2.45% pay offer. It is asking for a rise of 6%, or 50p an hour.

Guildford-based Teresa Donegan, Unison’s South East regional manager, was one of the members protesting outside Hart council's offices.

She said local government employees have had below-inflation pay increases for 10 years and have the worst pay, holidays, parental rights and sick pay in the public sector.

"Taking strike action is not an easy choice – especially when finances are tight," she added.

"But without it, the employers will not return to negotiations or increase their offer."

Brian Baldwin, chair of the employers' side of the local government negotiating body, said the strike action could have serious implications for some of the most vulnerable people in society.