civilian staff at Keighley Police Station took part in a national strike on Tuesday to protest at what they saw as broken promises over pension provision.

The one-day walkout, which involved police community support officers, administration staff and helpdesk workers, was in protest over Government plans to alter the local government pension scheme.

The town's police station was not the only place to be affected, with local nurseries, the town hall and Keighley College also reporting strike-related absences.

The strikers wanted to register their opposition to a proposed new system, under which the Government would scrap the so-called 85-year rule.

This currently lets staff whose age, plus years worked, equals 85 or more retire on a full pension at 60, instead of 65.

The Keighley employees were among more than one million UK council workers who took part in the protest.

Most of the Keighley division police workers were members of the Unison union.

Unison shop steward James Black, who is a firearms inquiry officer, said: "It is important to state straight away that the strike was nothing to do with our employer, West Yorkshire Police.

"It was not a disagreement between West Yorkshire Police and its staff."

Speaking from the picket line at Keighley Police Station, Mr Black said nearly 100 civilian staff normally worked in the building.

The Sutton resident estimated that about two-thirds of those employees either stayed at home or joined the picket line.

He said: "Basically, the dispute is between the LGA (employers association), the government and members of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

"West Yorkshire Local Government Pensions Scheme is very funded and in a very healthy state.

"Unfortunately, other schemes are not so healthy and these are primarily in Conservative controlled local government areas."

He blamed the shortfall on government policy in the 1980s, when he said employers were encouraged to take pension holidays so did not continually pay into the fund.

He said: "Unison has always taken a realistic view and wants fairness with other groups of workers within government and local government circles."

He said employees such as police officers, fire-fighters, nurses and teachers had had their pension schemes protected.

He argued that other government workers deserved a similar deal.

The police station remained open on Tuesday but Strong Close Nursery, St Joseph's Primary School nursery and reception and Branshaw Special School were all forced to close for the day.

The town hall was also shut and some support staff at Keighley College stayed at home.

However, a spokeswoman for Keighley Library said none of its staff took part in the strike.

Unison is planning further action in the next few weeks.