pic: Andy O'Donnell

Today, 17 unions including Unite, UCU and Unison take to the streets across the country for a mass public sector strike – the largest national strike action seen in the UK for 40 years, with over 2 million people expected to walk out of work. Public sector services, including schools and hospitals will be affected, as well as airports and  borders, as unions push for negotiations with the government over pensions.

We cover the events as they unfold, from pickets across Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Hackney and Croydon, as well as the march from Lincoln’s Inn Fields at midday.

[liveblog]