Hundreds of public sector workers in Kent - from immigration officers to driving instructors - have gone on strike today in a row over pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) agreed to a half-day walk-out.

They are calling for a 5% pay rise for all civil servants this year.

Among them was Roy Muller, the PCS rep at Canterbury Crown Court.

Mr Muller, pictured right, said: "One of the sad facts of this strike is that so many of our members support the Budget day action, but so few can even afford to take the day off - that's how tough times have become.

"This government promised there would be no cuts to frontline staff, but all we have seen over the past few years are hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs and essential services cut.

"Add to that that not only are there no pay rises but incremental rises, which we are entitled to, have not been forthcoming.

"In these austere times we all have to tighten our belts... but what this government is doing has become a tourniquet strangling the life blood out of the economy."

Up to 250,000 workers could go on strike nationwide, the union claims.

It is the first of two planned days of action, with the second pencilled in for April 5.