DOZENS of schools in Comet country will be closed on Wednesday when teachers, health workers and council employees strike over proposed changes to their pensions.

Under the proposals, public sector pensions will move from final salary to career average, employee contributions will rise, and workers will have to work longer.

Members of unions including Unison, GMB and teachers’ unions NUT and NASUWT are taking industrial action.

So far, headteachers at more than 40 schools in Comet country have said their schools will be closed on Wednesday.

An up-to-date list of schools closed, or partially closed, is below.

Councils have said service provision will be disrupted but that they are working to protect essential services.

Assurances have been given that emergency services at Lister Hospital in Stevenage will not be affected by the strike action, but delays to routine care are expected.

Keep checking www.thecomet24.co.uk for updates as the consequences of the strike action unfold.

Comet country schools which will be closed, or partially closed, on Wednesday:

Ardeley St Lawrence C of E Primary, Stevenage

Ashtree Primary and Nursery, Stevenage

Ashwell Primary, Baldock (partially closed)

Barclay (The), Stevenage (partially closed)

Barnwell Secondary, Stevenage

Bedwell Primary School & Nursery, Stevenage

Benington C of E Primary, Benington Stevenage

Fairlands Primary School and Nursery, Stevenage

Fearnhill School, Letchworth

Featherstone Wood Primary, Stevenage (partially closed)

Heathcote (The), Stevenage

Highfield (The), Letchworth

Hillshott Infant School & Nursery, Letchworth

Hitchin Boys’

Hitchin Girls’

John Henry Newman, Stevenage

Knights Templar, Baldock

Larwood, Stevenage

Letchmore Infants’ and Nursery, Stevenage

Leys Primary & Nursery School (The), Stevenage

Longmeadow Primary School, Stevenage

Lordship Farm Primary, Letchworth

Marriotts Secondary, Stevenage

Martins Wood Primary, Stevenage

Moss Bury Primary School & Nursery, Stevenage (partially closed)

Nobel (The), Stevenage

Northfields Infant & Nursery, Letchworth

Northgate Primary, Bishop’s Stortford

Norton St Nicholas C of E (VA) Primary, Letchworth (partially closed)

Peartree Spring Infant, Stevenage

Round Diamond Primary, Stevenage

Shephalbury Park Primary, Stevenage

St Andrew’s C of E VA Primary, Hitchin

St Nicholas C of E Primary, Stevenage

Stonehill Primary, Letchworth

St Vincent De Paul , Stevenage

Thomas Alleyne (The), Stevenage

Valley (The), Stevenage

Weston Primary, Hitchin

Wilbury Junior, Letchworth

William Ransom Primary, Hitchin (partially closed)

Wilshere-Dacre Junior, Hitchin

Woolgrove Special, Letchworth

Wymondley JMI, Little Wymondly

York Road Nursery, Hitchin