Hundreds of thousands of British civil servants will stage a one-day strike today in a dispute over job cuts.
The strike, which will also affect Northern Ireland, threatens disruption to job centres, benefit offices, Customs, driving tests, tax collection and museums across the United Kingdom.
The walkout by members of the Public and Commercial Services union will be the biggest in the civil service in over a decade.
Around 160 government departments and agencies will be hit by the stoppage, which could be followed by further industrial action if the row is not resolved.
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The union is protesting at government plans to cut over 100,000 jobs, warning of the "devastating" impact on services to the public.