PUBLIC services are set to grind to a halt for the second time in a month as council workers strike in a bid for more money.

Swimming pools, libraries, playgroups and some schools will shut as a result of the action, organised by the three unions which represent public sector workers.

And services such as road-sweeping and dustbin collections will also be cancelled on the day of the strike, set for Wednesday, August 14.

More than 750,000 local government workers took part in the last one day strike on July 17.

They are all members of the three main unions -- Unison, the TGWU and the GMB -- and have all rejected the annual three per cent pay award offered to them by the Government.

They want at least six per cent, which, would work out at an average of £1,750 per employee.

But the Government -- which sets the rise -- is refusing to budge on the issue.

Councils say they cannot afford to give staff any more than the extra allocated to them in their annual grants from the Government.

Donna Hall, executive director for corporate resources at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "We are disappointed to hear this news and will put in place the same measures to minimise the impact for local people and attempt to ensure core services are protected.

"We will also continue to maintain our good working relationship with the Trade Unions during this national dispute."