A day of school closures and strikes in Redland, Bristol

Hundreds of workers in Redland, Bristol, downed tools today for a day of nationwide strikes in a row over pension cuts.

Schools were closed, operations cancelled and public services reduced as the public sector workers joined together to oppose the sweeping cuts to their pensions.

Many headed to college Green to join a 20,000 city-wide demonstration and social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, was abuzz with everyone putting their two pennies worth in.

It appears much of Redland and Bristol is divided over the justification for the strike action. Hundreds of parents who work in the private sector were forced to take a day off work too, in order to look after their children as schools were closed for the day. Other disgruntled residents, complained that the public sector pay and pensions were far better than the private sector and people should stop moaning. And Unions came under fire for being 'greedy' and 'power-hungry'.

One 28-year-old marketing assistant from Redland said: "I think it's really selfish. We're in a recession and they're moaning about a 1 per cent increase. They're lucky to get a pay rise at all. It's costing the economy billions and is helping no-one."

But workers out on strike say they are exercising their democratic right to strike and felt there was no other choice as the government would not back down on plans to cut pensions. One of the Redland teachers on the protest said: "I felt it was important to both go on strike and go and support the protest. Most people were clapping, only one woman booed us. It's not greedy. The average female public sector pension is under £60 a week, I don't think that's greedy.

He added: "It was a show of how angry people are and how sick we are of being demonised by politicians. We won't know what it has achieved for a while. The top govt reps haven't sat down with the Union reps for weeks. They're not ruling out another strike. I'd do it again."

To see a photo gallery of the day's action, click here.