BUSINESS leaders and parents have hit out at striking teachers for disrupting the economy and putting children’s education at risk.

Teachers walked out from schools across north Essex yesterday in protest over changes to pay, pensions and working conditions.

Some 37 schools were closed across the county while 68 were partially closed.

More than 300 schools were open as usual.

Members of the National Union of Teachers said they “regretted” the disruption caused but also warned the long-term damage to the changes being brought forward by Education Secretary Michael Gove would be more damaging.

But Iain Wicks, Essex Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, attacked strikers, saying: “If they regret it, why did they go through with it?"

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