STRIKE-WEARY East Lancashire faced major disruption back in 1979 when thousands of public service workers added to the mounting industrial chaos.

This picture, taken in January 22, 1979, shows members from the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) taking part in the strike outside Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

The one-day national pay strike closed hundreds of schools throughout Lancashire and caused severe disruption to town halls, bus services and hospitals.

In Blackburn, the strike by public service workers halted waste collection services, burials in local authority cemeteries, highways, sewage and pest control work.

Swimming baths, leisure centres, museums and art galleries were also shut down.

Several bus services in Darwen were also halted.