People in East Lancashire are being warned to expect disruption to council and hospital services on Wednesday as a result of the Day of Action strike by public sector workers.

Staff at courts, Jobcentres and emergency services are expected to take part in the industrial action.

Blackburn Magistrates’, Burnley Magistrates’, Reedley Magistrates’, Hyndburn Magistrates’ and Burnley Crown could all be affected.

A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service said cases would be prioritised to ensure public safety.

He said: “We have robust contingency plans in place which will prioritise the delivery of our most essential services.

"These include custody cases and urgent family cases. Our aim is to keep disruption to a minimum.

"Our intention is to continue to work with all staff to deliver our services to the public.”

The Department for Work and Pensions said ‘business continuity measures’ were in place to deliver and maintain a service at the area’s Jobcentres.

In addition, everyone who is entitled to benefits will receive them.

Lancashire Police officers will be drafted in to answer 999 calls when civilian staff walk out.

The North West Ambulance Service said a safe service, albeit a reduced one, will be maintained during the day of action.

The number of vehicles on the road may also be reduced and will be sent to those most in need of treatment.

Services will be disrupted at East Lancashire’s hospitals when staff, including nurses, walk out.

Staff at Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals have notified NHS bosses of their intention to take strike action.

Mark Brearley, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive, said: “Negotiations have taken place with the trade unions to ensure that appropriate staffing levels will be maintained to ensure emergency and urgent care continues to be provided. Doctors are not on strike.

“Some less-urgent procedures and outpatient appointments for that day will be postponed and we have endeavoured to contact any patients affected.

"We will make every effort to reschedule these appointments as soon as possible.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to our patients and their families.”

Blackburn with Darwen

Bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council warned people to expect disruption to all of its services.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s binmen will not pick up rubbish on strike day, with a double collection planned in stead for Wednesday, December 7.

But recycling collections will be carried out as normal.

The borough’s household waste and recycling centres will remain open.

Town halls in Blackburn and Darwen will be open, and the council’s contact centre will be operating on 01254 585585.

Markets will also be open, but libraries are expected to close, with limited access for bookings and access to the employment agency, and some telephone renewals available.

All leisure centres will be in operation apart from Waves and Darwen Leisure Centre.

In addition, community transport will be available as usual and Feilden Street car park will be open from 7am to 6pm.

Burnley

Burnley Borough Council states staff will be at work at a range of Council buildings and facilities with, for example, St Peter's Centre and the Market Hall remaining open as usual.

Town hall chiefs said the main switchboard will be closed, but people with emergencies will be directed to a senior manager if they call.

Hyndburn

In Hyndburn, all council offices will be closed, with the exception of the cemeteries office, which will provide a normal service.

All scheduled collections in Hyndburn are expected to be carried out.

Pendle

Pendle Council is aiming to keep markets in Nelson and Colne open, and luncheon clubs for elderly and disabled people will run as normal in Trawden, and in Railway Street, Nelson.

The Contact Pendle Centre, in Market Street, Nelson, which includes the borough’s main switchboard, will be closed.

Council bosses said bin and recycling collections will be ‘severely disrupted’ on strike day.

Residents whose household waste or recycling is due to be collected on Wednesday are likely to be affected.

If their domestic waste, which goes in their grey bins, is not picked up on Wednesday, it will be collected on Thursday or Friday instead.

But they will have to wait until Wednesday, December 14 for their recycling to be collected from their brown bins and green bins.

Collections of bulky household waste and clinical waste will not be affected because they are provided by outside contractors.

Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley Borough Council said it had no plans to suspend any services, although some might be affected, depending on the number of staff who walk out.

All scheduled collections in the Ribble Valley are expected to be carried out.

Rossendale

Rossendale’s offices will be open, but a Cabinet Meeting planned for Wednesday has been rearranged to take place in the Council Chamber, at 6.30pm on Thursday December 1.

Household waste collections will be prioritised, with garden waste collections suspended.

Where household waste is not collected, council staff will attempt to pick it up in the days following the strike.

Recycling will be collected on the next scheduled day.