THE FYLDE'S civil servants are planning a bonfire night walk-out over planned nationwide job cuts.

Up to 10,000 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union members could down tools on the Fylde, protesting against Chancellor Gordon Brown's planned cull of 100,000 jobs in the UK.

In a national ballot, 72,780 PCS members - 64.5 per cent - supported strike action, with 46,142 against.

Martin Jones, chairman of PCS' Fylde Coast, Preston and Filestores Branch, said: "The strike is not taken lightly, especially when it is the biggest strike in a generation involving all of the service.

"We are not against doing things more efficiently, but cutting over 100,000 jobs will mean poorer services for everyone and damaging the very services the government have sought to improve."

Branch secretary, Duncan Griffiths, added: "We hope that the result sends a clear signal. The job losses decimate the local economy."

He added: "We are looking for clear leadership from the local MPs and believe that if necessary a proper exit scheme should be offered to those wanting to go."

Civil servants will strike at Norcross and Warbreck House sites in north Blackpool, and Peel Park and Lytham's Land Registry in Fylde.

Fylde MP Michael Jack said reducing costs was 'an agenda shared by all the major political parties'. But he added: "The question is how the savings are to be made without ruining the delivery of front-line services."

He added: "I recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to try and get more details of what they have in mind for the local area.

"They clearly haven't worked out in details which jobs were going to be affected and what the time table of their removal would be."

Joan Humble, Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP, said she raised the issue again with the DWP Secretary of State at a meeting of the Commons' work and pensions select committee only a few days ago.

She added: "I recognise the importance of these jobs. When these cuts were first proposed I questioned the Chancellor about them, with an emphasis that we have large numbers of civil servants here providing a vital service to many very vulnerable people. I asked that there be proper discussion with the staff and the trade unions."

A spokeswoman for the DWP, said: "We are disappointed that PCS members have voted for a one-day strike at a time when we are still discussing the issues with PCS officials.

"We have had a number of meetings and want to continue to work with them through discussions, not industrial action, to deliver a more effective, efficient public service. This is an aim unions and government both share."

She added: "It will mean temporary disruption and some offices may be closed but our contingency plans will ensure that payments to our customers is maintained."