Thousands of pupils across Shropshire will be out of their classrooms next week as more schools announce they will be closed for strikes – bringing the total to 64.

There will be 23 schools closed in Shropshire and 41 in Telford & Wrekin. In addition a further 60 Shropshire schools will be closed to some pupils and education bosses are still waiting to hear from 55 others.

Shropshire Council boss Kim Ryley said the strikes would be the worst in the county for 30 years.

Hundreds of teachers and support staff will walk out on Wednesday as around two million public sector workers protest over changes to their pensions.

Bosses at Walford and North Shropshire College said both its campuses – Oswestry and Walford – would also be closed. Footsteps nursery at the Oswestry campus will run as normal.

The college’s Learndirect service at the Qube in Oswestry’s Oswald Road will also run as normal.

Shropshire hospital and council services will also be affected.

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust said inpatient care and minor injury units at the county’s community hospitals and other essential services, such as district nursing visits to priority patients, will run as usual.

However, some non-urgent clinics have been suspended and everyone affected will be contacted by the trust to re-arrange appointments.

In Powys, police have put in place special measures to ensure minimal disruption to residents.

Public enquiry facilities at Newtown will remain open to provide a ‘front desk resource’.

Staff at Shrewsbury College who are set to strike have asked education bosses to donate their day’s salary to charity.

Twenty members of the University and College Union and Unison voted unanimously to support a motion asking the college to donate money to two charities.

Steve Bradfield a trade union lecturer at the College said: “If we have to work longer and don’t retire there will be no jobs for young people.”

He said they had put the request to college management and were awaiting a response.

A spokesman for Shrewsbury College today confirmed a request had been received and noted by the management.