Council workers walk out for second day but 'biggest strike in years' is branded a flop

Unions claimed more than 500,000 workers continued with the 48-hour stoppage, which began yesterday, in protest at a 2.45 per cent pay offer..

But employers described it as a 'flop' with only 100,000 on strike on the first day and just 8 per cent of the workforce affected by the dispute.

Pay call: Striking unison members march through Bristol City centre this afternoon

General secretary Dave Prentis said: 'After yesterday's strong showing, picket lines up and down the country have today remained solid and are even growing in some regions.

'The resolve of local government workers is hardening, particularly in Wales, where there is evidence of intimidation of some of our members. Public support is on our side, so the employers must realise they have a fight on their hands.

'With inflation at an 11 year high and set to rise further, local government staff and their families cannot take another year of pay cuts.

'The employers need only dip into their £11 billion reserves to end this dispute - they do not have to resort to cutting services or raising council tax.'

Leisure centres, museums, art galleries, theatres, nurseries and youth centres were also closed again today.

The pay row comes as the legitimacy of the strike ballot was called into question, with just 15 per cent of Unison's members backing action.

A survey of councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Local Government Association revealed that only 1,016 schools shut, compared to the figure of 11,000 heralded by Unison.

The Tories warned that Britain faces a summer of strikes.

Pay anger: Local government workers demonstrate in central Portsmouth this afternoon

More disruption is expected today when public sector workers protest over pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union, who include driving test examiners and coastguard staff, also went on strike in a separate row over their below-inflation pay offer.

It says up to 5,000 driving tests were cancelled yesterday.

Distribution workers at Argos will also stage a 24-hour walkout today over pay.

PCS members in the Home Office, including immigration officers, will stage a one-day strike tomorrow, when staff in the Land Registry will also walk out.

Problems piling up: Domestic refuse sits outside houses in Reading, Berkshire, uncollected due to a strike by Public Sector workers

Coastguards start a 48-hour stoppage tomorrow in protest at a below-inflation pay deal.

The strikes will test Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling, who have called for pay restraint from the 'boardroom to the shopfloor' to rein in inflation.

Unison boss Dave Prentis has warned that public-sector workers will bring down the Government at the next election if pay disputes are not resolved.

They want a pay rise of 6 per cent or 50p an hour, whichever is greater.

Pay protest: A refuse worker crosses the picket line outside the Hollingdean Depot in Brighton, Sussex today

He said: 'This has been a fantastic response. These members have not taken this action lightly.'

But Jan Parkinson, of the Local Government Employers, said 2.45 per cent was fair, adding: 'A higher offer would have to be funded through increases in council tax or cuts to essential services.'