More than 500 teachers could go on strike across the area with both Witham academies set to close for a day.

Two teaching unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) are pledging a day of industrial action tomorrow in a row over pensions.

Across Braintree and Witham the NUT has 396 members with the ATL boasting 80 in Braintree and 50 in Witham.

Talks are ongoing between the unions and the government but many schools are preparing for the strike to go ahead.

Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy headteachers John Szynal and Debra Bull wrote to parents saying a significant number of staff are expected to strike and so all classes cannot be covered.

See this week's Times for the full story.