Union leaders pronounced themselves satisfied with the turn-out, while SBC's depute leader Alec Nicol admitted the 14-hour stoppage had "some effect".

At the time of going to press, the council reckoned around 500 staff had gone on strike. The unions, with an estimated 1,800 SBC members, claimed it was too early to confirm the numbers.

Late last week, all staff were advised that no leave, unless pre-arranged, would be granted for yesterday while the pay entitlement of people self-certifying as sick for the first time on the day would be cut.

Despite that, 14 primary schools, three nurseries and four of the region's nine secondary schools were closed for health and safety reasons with janitors and cleaners withdrawing their labour.

Refuse went uncollected across Roxburghshire, with all manual cleansing staff in Hawick and Jedburgh downing tools, along with binmen based in Duns and serving Berwickshire. However, collections carried on as normal in Galashiels and Selkirk, much to the chagrin of Unite (TGWU) regional secretary Rab Stewart.

"Given the solid support we got elsewhere, I am disappointed the Galashiels binmen did not strike," said Mr Stewart.

Recyling centres at Hawick, Langlee and Duns were closed, but operated normally at Eshiels near Peebles, Eyemouth and Selkirk.

Emergency cover was co-ordinated by just two members of staff at SBC's main transport/roads depot at Newtown where all mechanics, as well as their colleagues in Hawick, Peebles and Duns, refused to cross the picket line.

The council planned to plug the gap by using national roadside rescue organisations to deal with emergency repairs to the council's transport fleet.

An early referral came shortly before 9am when a council minibus, leased to the Brothers of Charity and conveying adults with special needs to the Reiver Project in Tweedbank, broke down in Galashiels. However, the driver was able to rectify the fault and the passengers safely reached their destination.

Action by social work staff led to the closure of the children and families offices in Selkirk and Kelso, although the Galashiels office remained open for emergencies. Criminal justice offices in Selkirk and Galashiels were also closed, although court business was unaffected.

In a pre-arrangement with the three unions, emergency personnel with social work, staff at residential homes and some key home care workers maintained a skeleton service.

All catering and cleaning staff at SBC's Newtown HQ went out, with most joining the picket line outside the main entrance.

Primary schools which closed were at Ayton, Burnfoot, Earlston, Glendinning Terrace (Galashiels) Newcastleton, Reston, Stirches, Trinity (Hawick), Howdenburn, Newtown, Drumlanrig (Hawick), Knowepark (Selkirk), Cockburnspath and Wilton (Hawick).