Thousands of children were staying at home today as most schools across Bath closed because of teaching strikes.

School staff were being joined by public sector workers for a march through the city centre, including Ministry of Defence staff concerned about plans to close Bath's three sites.

Negotiations between the government and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) have failed to resolve issues over cuts to pensions.

Around three in four schools in Bath have been affected by the move, either by complete or partial closure.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has organised the rally, with members due to march from the City of Bath College to Abbey Church Yard at around 12.30pm.

PCS branch secretary at Ensleigh Kevin Kilcoyne said: "We are taking action nationally against the attacks on our pay and pensions as well as the cutting of 25,000 jobs in the Ministry of Defence and this is linked with the proposals to close the Bath sites."

The city's secondary schools have been the hardest hit, with Culverhay School, St Gregory's Catholic College, St Mark's School, Broadlands School and Wellsway School all closed.

Ralph Allen School has stayed open to all pupils except Year 10, Hayesfield School and Beechen Cliff School are both partially closed, while Oldfield School has been unaffected by the strikes.