Thousands of council workers across Sussex went on strike today, bringing many services to a standstill.

Union leaders said 6,500 council workers were taking part in industrial action across Brighton and East Sussex to call for higher wages.

Brighton and Hove City Council said services were severely affected.

Traders faced disruption trying to obtaining parking waivers from short-staffed parking offices in Brighton and Hove but parking wardens remained on duty across the city as they are employed by contractors NCP.

Most of the city's schools remained open but some special schools relying heavily on transport were closed.

Templars First School in Sompting and Fordwater Special School in Chichester will be shut all day while Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath was due to close at lunchtime.

Staff were set to strike at Strawford Centre for adults with learning difficulties in Horsham.

West Sussex County Council's records office in Chichester was expected to offer only a restricted service.

Residents faced limited access to many libraries and difficulties making phone inquiries at council offices, with few staff to take calls.

Teana Ashley, senior regional officer for Unison, was confident people would back the strikers.

She said: "This is a show of feeling to make the public aware the Government needs to put more money into public services.

"The only comments we have had have been supportive. The emergency services will still be on duty and there will still be services for groups like the elderly.

"I believe taking strike action is the only way to alert the public to the serious threat facing services.

"Staff shortages coupled with recruitment and retention problems, caused by appallingly-low pay, have stretched public service provision to the point of crisis.

"Unison wants to see public services improved but this will not be achieved without investing in the staff who provide them."

She said many council workers had recently applied to join Unison to take part in the strike action. Brighton and Hove City Council's chief executive David Panter has written to all staff revealing his disappointment at the strike.

He said: "We are concerned for employees and users of the council's services and regret this is happening."

The three big local government unions, Unison, the GMB and the TGWU, all balloted members in favour of action.

It is the first national strike by council workers since 1989.

Unison said its Sussex members would strike in Adur, Arun, Chichester, Lewes and Mid Sussex district councils, Hastings and Worthing borough councils, East Sussex and West Sussex county councils and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Union leaders are demanding a flat rate wage rise of £1,750 or a six per cent increase. They have rejected the offer of a three per cent rise.

A Mid Sussex District Council spokeswoman said it was making every effort to ensure services operated as normal.

Only one refuse collection round was operating in Worthing and its Aquarena complex was closing for swimming.