Chaos is predicted across Sussex today as more than 30,000 public sector workers strike over pensions.
Dozens of schools, council offices, town halls, leisure centres and libraries across the county are closed, rubbish is not being collected and police community support officers will not go on their beats. Sussex Police switchboard staff walked out at midnight last night.
There will be pickets at locations including council buildings, University of Brighton's main campuses and the whole of Grove Road in Eastbourne.
Protest marches and rallies are also taking place.
Unions taking part are Unison, GMB, Transport and General Workers' Union, Amicus, the National Association of Probation Officers, Community and Youth Workers' Union, the Association of Educational Psychologists and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.
They are angry that the Government proposes to end the 85-year rule which allows council workers to retire at 60 if their age and years of service add up to 85 years. Councils say costs mean the retirement age must rise to 65 for all employees.
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