FEARS the public sector in the South East faces a meltdown came to a head when teachers and police officers launched protests about the "impossible" cost of living.

Almost 3,000 pupils from schools in Bushey and Chorleywood stayed at home on Thursday, March 14, because of a teacher walk-out.

The previous day, police officers from Hertfordshire joined a national rally at Westminster.

Thousands of frontline police officers met in the capital, angry about plans to change pay and working conditions.

Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is driving through the unpopular reforms, said he was prepared to look at compromises.

The breaking point for teachers came after the present Government offered to increase a special living allowance in Hertfordshire by 3.5 per cent.

The 42 pence a week rise would have lifted the sum from £792 to about £820 a year, before tax.

A majority of National Union of Teachers (NUT) members rejected the offer last week, ensuring strike action throughout London and the Home Counties.

On Thursday, March 14, more than 120 NUT teachers from the Hertfordshire attended a rally in the Wheathampstead Education and Development Centre to show support for the strike.

NUT branch secretary Mr Jon Berry said: "Young people are not lasting long enough in the job because they cannot afford to live here. The only way they can do it is by living with their parents or a rich partner."

He said teachers no longer felt in control of their day-to-day practices because of unpopular Government initiatives.

The strike left Queens' School, Bushey, offering classes only for sixth form students, currently preparing for A Level exams.

About 1,190 pupils were asked to stay away. A similar number were hit at Bushey Hall School, which was completely closed because a third of its staff were taking industrial action.

Almost 100 primary school children at Yorke Mead School, Rickmansworth, were affected and 485 at St Clement Danes School, Chorleywood.

Other schools, including the two Watford Grammars, were running as normal. Although some staff were NUT members, they opposed the strike. No other unions backed the protest.

Headteacher of Bushey Hall Mr Nigel Hill, who was not on strike, said he sympathised with the issues behind the action.

He said: "It is about recruitment and retainment of good teachers.

"If we are looking to recruit people fresh out of training, it means 22-year-olds are being asked to spend £600 a month on rent.

"They are getting a housing allowance which goes absolutely nowhere."

The complaint about living costs has impacted across the public sector, including health workers, ambulance teams and firefighters.

Recent surveys have shown Hertfordshire is one of the worst places to live for public and low-paid workers.

Land Registry statistics showed the average cost of a home in Watford between July and September last year, was £145,000. It is more than £80,000 beyond the pocket of a childcare worker.

Last September, a £22 million bid by Hertfordshire County Council to give a £30,000 subsidy to key workers was rejected by the Government. Instead, £2.53 million was granted, helping 68 teachers over the next three years.

Education Secretary Estelle Morris said: "I understand there is an issue, but there is no need to strike. That is not the way we do business."

Her comments reflected concerns among teachers it would alienate them from the public.

Mr Paul Bond, of Watford, has three children at Queens' School. He said it was inconvenient but added: "It's a sad state of affairs they have to strike to get what they need."

Assistant headteacher at the school Mrs Dorothy Sharpe said the strike was unpopular among teachers, which would explain why it hit so few schools.

She said: "I don't think there is a groundswell of support. It is not a popular strike with teachers because they feel there are bigger issues."