TV LICENCE workers carried out a 24-hour walkout in Darwen yesterday over a pay rise dispute.

Twenty five workers based at India Mill in Bolton Road carried plackards at the front of the building, protesting at the 2.6 per cent offer by Capita.

They say the deal, which equates to £400 extra per year for many of the workers, is below inflation and is ‘a pay cut in real terms’.

Two hundred people work for TV Licensing at India Mill.

About 100 are members of the CWU.

Alan West, representative of the Communications Workers Union which has sanctioned the move, said: “It was a very good turnout in Darwen with 25 to 30 people out from 7.30am to 10.30am.

“When the law changed on minumum wages, there were 14 out of 50 people based in Darwen who would have been earning too little.

"Many others are on as little as £11,500 or £12,500 per year at a time when the cost of living is rising.

“Capita are making a million pounds every day, so this bleeding heart stuff that they can’t afford to pay anyone any more is rubbish.

“There is no excuse for the offer they have made. We think that they are using the recession as an excuse.”

Further strikes are not being ruled out by the CWU, whose members at the TV Licence office in Bristol also staged a walkout.

Mr West added: “We will not be giving up the fight now we have stomped our feet a little bit.

“We have to continue until progress is made and further strikes may be needed for that.”

A Capita spokesman said: “The offer made to staff working on the TV licensing contract represents a minimum increase of 2.6 per cent and 2.7 per cent for 2010 and 2011 respectively.

“We think that this is a good and fair offer, particularly in the light of the economic climate, which continues to be challenging, and the fact that many other private sector organisations, including some parts of Capita, have had to institute pay freezes.”