COMMENTS made by a district councillor criticising Tuesday's strike over pensions have prompted anger among council workers.

Westbury Lavington councillor Russell Hawker sent an email to all council staff and members on Wednesday, in response to a message by council leader Sarah Content praising both staff who went on strike and those that didn't for their positive attitudes.

He said: "I would like to thank all those sensible and responsible staff who ignored the union and carried on working for the good of the people of west Wiltshire. "I cannot possibly say in print what I think about the strikers."

In a reply Sue Anderson, secretary of West Wiltshire Unison, said she had been inundated with messages in response to Cllr Hawker's email and was planning a formal response on behalf of union members. Cllr Hawker then said: "I regard the strike as a waste of time for everyone which will merely give some union reps and union fat cat bosses a quick shot of publicity for no good."

The email conversations were forwarded to the Wiltshire Times by Cllr Hawker. When we contacted Mrs Anderson said she was unaware the messages had been sent to the press. She said: "I really do feel his comments are individual and isolated. I have had several councillors email me and say they wish to distance themselves from his comments.

"No-one takes the decision to strike lightly, it is a matter of individual conscience and principals. "He is entitled to his opinion. We have contacted him and told him how we feel and consider that to be an end to the matter."