BALLOT papers will go out to more than 2,000 Swindon Council workers next week asking them if they back strike action.

Unison and the Transport and General Workers' Union will start sending out the papers on Monday and they will have to be returned by March 9.

If workers vote in favour of a strike, council services across the town could grind to a halt, as they did during a one-day strike over pay in 2002.

But council leader Coun Mike Bawden said that essential council services would continue even if the strike went ahead.

"If this proposed national industrial action is undertaken, we will work closely with the unions to ensure essential services are maintained," he said.

"We appreciate the unions' concern on pensions issues, because everyone is under the same pressure, be it a private company or a member of the public with a pension plan."

Unison said that changes to the pension scheme were coming into force a year ahead of other public sector schemes and would increase the retirement age to 65.

Other changes included a move to a basic pay scheme rather than final salary resulting in a smaller pension, although employees would pay more.