Social security offices and job centres in Bradford face disruption with civil servants mounting the latest in a series of two-day strikes.

Around 600 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) are expected to join the industrial action in a long-running dispute over pay and performance assessment.

But Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) staff have also been incensed by the Government's announcement that it wants to axe 30,000 civil service jobs, which could lead to redundancies in the area.

The latest action follows strikes in February and April. It will affect Bradford's two job centres and those in Keighley and Shipley. Four social security offices in Bradford and Keighley will also be affected, along with the pensions service.

The year-long dispute centres on a wrangle over pay and the introduction of a controversial performance and development system (PDS). Bradford leader of the PCS, David Burke, said: "If the Government is serious about cutting out waste of resources, unnecessary bureaucracy and simplifying and modernising the civil service then the PDS must be a prime target for cuts.

"The system fails to deliver an effective appraisal system. It is bad for both people and bad for business."

The union is so angered by the appraisal system, which it says has unfairly downgraded many DWP workers, that it is taking High Court action against the Government.

Pay has also played a central role in persuading Bradford civil servants to strike. The DWP claims its workers are paid less than the majority of other civil service departments.

Mr Burke said feelings were running so high at offices in Bradford and Airedale that many non-union staff were joining the PCS.

A DWP spokesman condemned the action. "We cannot see any reason for the PCS to call a strike," he said. "Its timing is cynical when annual leave is at its peak and clearly targeted at some of the services we run for some of the most vulnerable people in society."