CIVIL servants are taking strike action in Notts today over a redundancy dispute.

Courts, job centres and tax offices are affected as a result of the two-day strike.

Some driving tests are likely to be cancelled as a result of action at Driving Standards Agency (DSA) test centres.

The industrial action has been called by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) after the Government made changes to a compensation scheme, which will see civil servants lose up to a third of their entitlements if they lose their job.

A picket line was in place this morning at Nottingham Prison in Perry Road, Sherwood, and at the DSA headquarters in Upper Parliament Street.

And workers have been picketing outside the HM Revenue and Customs offices in Castle Meadow Road, city centre, since 6.40am.

Around a dozen union members are handing out flyers and holding placards.

A march is due to set off from the Revenue office into the city centre at 11am.

Jeff Lowe, East Midlands PCS branch secretary, said: "We are hoping there will be hundreds. We want to make people aware."

Ronnie Needham, assistant branch secretary of the PCS East Midlands and Revenue and Customs branch, who has worked at the tax offices for more than 13 years, said: "It's an attack on our terms and conditions.

"If they bring in this change then they will come back and look to reduce our pension provision pay.

"It's a bit ironic that we are out on strike over terms and conditions and MPs have voted to give themselves a pay rise."

Union bosses say the changes have been made so that cuts can be made to public services cheaply.

A spokesman for the courts service said custody cases and urgent family cases would still be heard.

A spokesperson for the Driving Standards Agency said: "Candidates who have a driving test booked for today or tomorrow should attend as scheduled. We won't know the effects of the strikes until the day as not all of our examiners and staff are members of the union.

"We don't know who will attend for work, which is why we ask candidates to arrive for their test regardless. There is no need to contact DSA.

"If a candidate can't take a test because of the industrial action, they will have the test rebooked automatically, free of charge, and an appointment confirmation will be sent by email or post. If the new appointment isn't suitable candidates can change it online at www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest."

A spokesperson for HM Revenue & Customs said: "The enquiry centre is open but were are advising that customers may want to delay contacting us until Wednesday, when the strike is over.

"Those who want to speak to us urgently can do so but it may take longer than usual."

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "There is incredible anger among hard-working public servants who are seeing their terms ripped up.

"The strike will show how vital these people are to the running of our society. Those on strike today deliver services that touch our everyday lives from the cradle to the grave."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "All Jobcentres across the East Midlands are open.

"There are tried and tested contingency arrangements in place to ensure that customers are paid the benefits they entitled to. Ninety eight per cent of customers are automatically paid their benefits through their bank accounts."

However, one person in receipt of Job Seeker's Allowance said it had taken more than three hours to speak to somebody on a telephone number which the Department for Work and Pensions number provides for Crisis loans, 0800 032 8344.

Callers to the number were told: "Due to service difficulties today we are only able to offer a limited service, which may result in increased waiting times." (That's what happened when I called it. Man only wanted to be known as Oscar and has only just moved to Notts and is homeless so I didn't think it was worth quoting him, but we can speak to him through a man called Jonathan on 07900 004949 )

Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell said: "The changes to the civil service compensation scheme were agreed with five of the six civil service unions after 18 months of negotiation and consultation. These unions all agree with us that the resulting deal is fair for staff and taxpayers.

"It is very disappointing that the PCS has decided to take industrial action, especially given that less than one in five of their own members voted in favour of strike action, and that, overall, this figure represents only around ten per cent of the total civil service workforce."