Council workers are set to cause chaos across the county again next month after hailing the success of a one-day strike.

Services are returning to normal today after thousands of staff across Sussex joined in national industrial action yesterday against low pay.

Union leaders described the mass walkouts as a "fantastic success" despite the disruption caused to schools, leisure facilities, libraries, council offices, car parks, colleges and museums.

Another ballot is planned in early August to ask if members want to down tools again.

The strike, called by Unison, the GMB and TGWU, was the first national action by council workers since 1979.

Last night, Teana Ashley, senior regional officer for Unison, said: "Tony Blair needs to take heed that enough is enough. Public sector workers cannot survive on the low wages they are paid."

In Brighton and Hove about 2,000 workers went on strike - a quarter of the city council's workforce - including binmen, who were due to work as normal but unanimously voted to back their colleagues.

They drove their dustcarts through the city centre at lunchtime to hammer home their message.

Eleven schools, mainly special schools, did not open and six primary schools closed earlier than normal.

Council chief executive David Panter said: "From our point of view things have gone relatively smoothly.

"We had very clear arrangements with the unions on exemptions for essential services and that has been upheld by the unions."

In Worthing, Peacehaven and Seaford, thousands of residents and businesses will have to wait until next week for their rubbish to be collected.

John Crawford, chief executive of Lewes District Council, said: "A double collection next week on Wednesday is the worst outcome that will be suffered."

The strike was called to back union demands for a pay increase of six per cent. The Government has offered workers a three per cent rise.