A NATIONAL strike by public service workers is expected to have a big impact in Wyre Forest.

The district council has warned rubbish collection and the availability of facilities at sports and leisure centres will be among the services hit.

Picket lines are expected to form outside workplaces on Wednesday following a decision taken by public service unions to stage a national one-day strike.

Members of UNISON, GMB and TGWU voted for action to back their pay claim and to reject a "paltry" three per cent pay rise.

A Wyre Forest District Council spokesman said: "We respect workers' rights to go on strike - but it may have some effect on services.

"We will endeavour to provide full services but would advise anyone planning to use sports and leisure centres to ring before travelling. Obviously we can only open a swimming pool if we have enough lifeguards to man it."

The strike is also expected to include bin men.

The spokesman added: "We will do as many rounds as we can on Wednesday and would ask people to leave their bins out until 5pm.

"If we haven't been round by then they should store their bins until the following week when we will also accept a reasonable amount of side waste."