MASSIVE disruption is expected in Huddersfield next Wednesday as 8,000 council and public service workers go on strike.

Most council services throughout Kirklees will be hit as union Unison supports a one-day strike over pensions.

Talks are being held at national level this week which could change the position.

But Kirklees Council says if the action does go ahead contingencies for emergencies will be in place for some key services.

Union officials believe up to 8,000 people could take part in the strike next Wednesday.

And they claim that the issue of pensions and possible cuts in years to come is an issue that affects many, many workers and not just those in local government.

The strike will mean that most public offices, buildings and facilities will either be closed, or have only minimum numbers of staff working.

Services that will not be operating or open at all are expected to include revenues and benefits, cash/information offices, area housing offices, the two main Kirklees Information Points in Huddersfield and Dewsbury and other front line service points.

The council's contact centre Kirklees Direct will be open only on a limited basis for housing emergency calls.

The main town halls in Huddersfield, Batley, Cleckheaton and Dewsbury will be closed.

All libraries and public halls will be closed.

Bins emptied on a Wednesday will not be emptied until the following Wednesday.

No funerals will be held at either Huddersfield or Dewsbury Crematorium.

Council chiefs are hoping to keep some services operating.

Waste disposal sites will be open at Emerald Street, Huddersfield; Bromley Farm, Cumberworth; Nab lane, Batley; Thornhill Road, Dewsbury; and Bent Lea Road, Meltham.

Residential homes and home care services will be provided as normal.

There may be disruption to school meals services. Where schools depend on high levels of support staff, there may be additional difficulties. Individual schools will notify parents in advance of any unavoidable closure, reduced service or changed arrangements.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, the partnership company that manages council housing on the council's behalf, also expects most, if not all, its offices to be closed, and to be dealing with emergencies only.

Swimming pools, sports and leisure centres are managed on the council's behalf by Kirklees Active Leisure. It intends to open centres as normal, but people are advised to check for details of which activities will be available on the day.

Huddersfield funeral director Paul McNulty met with Kirklees Council officials on Tuesday and is furious over plans to have strike action next Wednesday.

He said: "It will mean the crematoria in Huddersfield and Dewsbury will be shut as will the cemeteries and there can be no funerals taking place in Huddersfield. I fail to see why they cannot operate some sort of service for the public."

Mr McNulty said an average day saw 10 funerals at Huddersfield Crematorium and delays were another blow for families.

He said the strike came just 48 hours before the facilities shut for Easter.

"They are already closed on Good Friday, Easter Monday and Tuesday and it is not the best way to offer a service to the public," he said.

Paul Holmes, a spoke- sman for the local government union Unison in Kirklees, said: "We offered to work Easter Tuesday to compensate for the strike day, to help with services such as funerals, but the council would not accept that.

"Pensions are an issue that affect everyone. We want a decent standard of life for our people when they retire - we don't want to go back to the days when people retired and died just three years later.

"I have been a steward for 30 years and have never seen such a level of support."

Members of other unions including Amicus, the T&G and UCATT will also back the industrial action.