THOUSANDS of civil servants in Yorkshire will go on strike today as they launch a Budget Day protest.

Jobcentres, tax offices, immigration and border services and defence bases will be among the Government departments affected by the walkout, organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, with almost 20,000 Civil Service employees expected to take part in Yorkshire and the Humber.

A second strike is due to be held on April 5, with PCS regional secretary Juanita Charles saying its members wanted to pressurise the Government to “take serious action against wealthy tax-dodgers”.

She said: “It’s clear the public have lost faith in austerity and want an alternative.”

Today’s action will include rallies in Leeds, Bradford, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Sheffield.