by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Schools are closed and rallies are being held around Maidstone today as public sector workers protest over plans to change their pensions.

Some schoolchildren have had a day off today as their schools have closed, while many others are only partially open.

Union members are set to stage a protest march through the town centre to County Hall at noon.

Arriva has said it will divert buses away from the town centre for the duration of the march.

A full list of journeys affected and the alternative routes can be found on their website http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/ in the Service Updates section.

Police staff have also set up a picket line outside Kent Police headquarters in Sutton Road, encouraging drivers passing to beep in support.

However, courts. the job centre and the fire service are unaffected.