Rubbish collections were also set to be hit - it's expected there will be no collections throughout Roxburghshire. And the recycling depot in Hawick is closed. The impact on other areas in the Borders is not known as yet.

Members of three trade unions UNISON, GMB and Unison in the country's 32 local authorities are taking industrial action after rejecting a pay offer of 2.5 per cent for each of the next three years.

Teaching staff are not involved in the 24-hour stoppage but some support staff will be taking action.

The classroom closures come just one day after pupils returned after their summer holidays.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Borders Council commented: "Where schools or nurseries cannot maintain adequate staff ratios to ensure pupil safety, they will be closed.

"For the schools that are open, there will be no school lunches on Wednesday and it is therefore important that parents send their child to school with a packed lunch. A packed lunch will be provided to all pupils who are entitled to free school meals."

Threat to school transport - advice to parents

School transport may be hit and pupils are advised to follow the standard guidance: if no bus arrives after 20 minutes, pupils should go (or be taken) home. Parents can transport their child to school themselves, but if so they should make arrangements to collect their child at the end of the day.

Scottish Borders Council has confirmed the following schools will be closed:

SECONDARY - Earlston, Galashiels, Hawick High and Kelso

PRIMARY - Stirches, Burnfoot, Drumlanrig, Wilton and Trinity in Hawick ( Stirches nursery remains open); Glendinning Terrace in Galashiels; Howdenburn in Jedburgh; Knowepark in Selkirk; Cockburnspath, Ayton, Earlston, Newcastleton, Reston, Newtown St Boswells,

NURSERY - Parkside in Jedburgh; Coldstream and Chirnside.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT - Howdenburn House in Jedburgh and certain classes at the Langlee Support Centre in Galashiels.


Kerbside collections hit - council offers advice

Trades union leaders claimed last week that 2,000 workers would stay away in the Borders - but Council Leader David Parker later maintained that figure was an exaggeration

On rubbish collections the council has offered this advice :"If your refuse is due to be collected on Wednesday, put your bin out as normal. If your refuse is not collected on Wednesday, please leave your bin out and it will be collected as soon as possible.

"Community recycling centres, transfer stations and the landfill site may also be affected ... call the Council first on 01835 825111 or look at the website to check on the situation.

"The council will prioritise domestic refuse collections and normal service will be resumed as soon as possible."