TEACHERS in Bolton could take industrial action in a row over pensions.

The National Union of Teachers is to ballot members, seeking a vote for a one-day strike after Easter.

It follows a pledge by council staff and other public sector workers to stage a strike on Wednesday, March 23 in protest at government plans to raise the age at which they can claim full pension entitlement from 60 to 65.

The NUT is the country's largest teaching union and industrial action would cripple the education system, closing schools and leaving thousands of pupils without lessons in Bolton.

Barry Conway, secretary of Bolton NUT, said: "We can be proud that our union is taking a lead on an issue which is of concern to all teachers.

"In Bolton we have done everything possible to make the government think again.

"We have written letters to education secretary Ruth Kelly, to all the local MPs, lobbied, had meetings, held marches and still the government is hell-bent on asking teachers to work an extra five years for nothing.

"Strike action is the one thing left that can send an angry signal to this government."

He said members would be asked to vote in favour of a strike, towing the union's national line on the issue.

Mr Conway added: "Every member knows the work that has been done by us to get this issue on the national agenda and we are now joined by millions of public sector workers across the country who feel the same way.

"The bitterness is no longer confined to teachers and our members can be justly proud of the lead the Bolton NUT has taken."

A number of unions including manufacturing union AMICUS, health workers union UCATT, the Fire Brigades Union and the Transport and General Workers Union will strike on March 23.

As Treasury Minister, Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly said the measures were about making the pensions system fairer, particularly for the lower paid and was not about saving cash.

She said the proposals "intended to modernise the civil service pension arrangements" while "reaffirming our commitment to the principle of a good quality defined benefit pension scheme".