TALKS were held to avert a strike by thousands of workers in JobCentres and benefit offices across Britain.

Staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have voted to support a two-day walk-out later this month in protest at job cuts. The Public and Commercial Services Union said the loss of 15,000 jobs and plans to axe a similar number were hitting services and leading to delays in help for jobseekers and benefit claimants.

Union leaders are due to meet today to review any progress in yesterday's talks with the department, and will an-nounce strike dates tomorrow unless there is a breakthrough.

The union is calling for a halt to the job cuts programme and an assessment of staffing levels as well as a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

TUC's rate cut plea

THE economy faced real difficulties this year, including the prospect of higher unemployment and 80,000 job losses in manufacturing firms, without a cut in interest rates, the TUC warned.

The union organisation called on the Bank of England to act early in 2006 by reducing rates, otherwise the economy could "hit the rocks". Its report, Cut or Bust, said one of the warning signs was the small increase in the jobless rate at the end of last year.