MORE than 100 schools in Suffolk will be affected as teachers stage their first strike in 21 years today.

MORE than 100 schools in Suffolk will be affected as teachers stage their first strike in 21 years today.

At least 54 schools across the county will close completely to students, with a further 63 not open to certain year groups.

The action is taking place because the National Union of Teacher's wants the Government's 2.45% pay offer for teachers increased to at least above the inflation. The official measure of inflation, the Consumer Prices Index, remained at 2.5% last month.

A Suffolk County Council spokesman said last night a total of 117 schools had informed them they would either be closing or be disrupted over the action.

This includes 54 primary schools, 54 secondary schools, five specialist schools and four pupil referral units.

The union's Suffolk county secretary Martin Goold said the strike was necessary to force the Government to think about how it treats teachers. He added disrupting pupils for a day would not be disastrous but not attracting the right people into the profession would.

Last night it was estimated that at least one in three schools in England and Wales would shut or partially

close over the pay row.

See how the strike will affect your schoolSee how the strike will affect your school