Row over national strike impact

The first strike was held on 31 January to disrupt tax returns

Civil servants and the government have disagreed about the impact of a second national strike over pay and job cuts.

The Public and Commercial Services union said more than 200,000 staff in courts, job centres, tax and benefit offices and museums went on strike.

But the government said that only around 113,000 people walked out, with a "minimal" effect on public services.

The union said further action will take place on Wednesday, with the start of a two-week overtime ban.

The first one-day strike was held on 31 January to coincide with the deadline for returning tax self assessment forms.

The union is angry at government plans to cut 100,000 civil service jobs, privatise services and keep pay rises below the rate of inflation.

This massive show of support demonstrates how angry and frustrated the government's own workforce are over below inflation pay offers and crude job cuts Mark Serwotka, PCS union

The PCS said the strike caused "massive disruption", with the closure of offices, museums and galleries and disruption of courts including the Old Bailey in London.

The Department for Education and Skills public inquiry line was closed for the day and a "significant" number of staff at the Serious and Organised Crime Agency were on strike, according to the union.

English Heritage sites, such as Eltham Palace in London also closed, said the PCS.

May Day rally

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This massive show of support clearly demonstrates how angry and frustrated the government's own workforce are over below inflation pay offers and crude job cuts."

He added: "It is a disgrace that the government appears determined to use its own workforce as an anti-inflationary tool by capping pay at 2% while the real cost of living creeps up to 5%."

Mr Serwotka accused the Cabinet Office of refusing to negotiate and of cancelling meetings where some of the issues could be resolved.

Picket lines were mounted outside government buildings, courts, offices and museums across the country, and many striking civil servants joined the traditional May Day Rally in Central London, which had a theme this year of defending public services.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said there had been a minimal effect on public services, adding: "As the government has said repeatedly, there is absolutely no need to strike. We value civil servants highly. They do a great job for the public."