HUNDREDS of civil servants in Dorset today downed tools to protest against proposals to axe more than 100,000 public service jobs across the UK.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union organised a national one-day strike for people who work in JobCentres, Land Registry, the Inland Revenue, the Driving Standards Agency, HM Customs and Excise, prisons, courts, museums and galleries.

Weymouth JobCentre Plus workers picketed their Westwey Road office after it was revealed that 76 benefits processors face relocation or redundancy.

PCS spokesman Alex Flynn said: "We are not against doing things more efficiently, but cutting these jobs will decimate service delivery, meaning poorer services for everyone.

"The people the Government are seeking to axe provide vital services that touch everybody's lives from cradle to grave."

Thirty administrative and support grade staff and instructional officers at the Portland Young Offender Institution withdrew labour and a picket line was formed at the main entrance.

PCS rep Mike Summers said: "There is a threat of job losses and staff face uncertainty about their jobs."

Staff at Vespasian House in Dorchester - which houses the tax office and JobCentre - also joined in.

Local PCS rep for the Inland Revenue Roy Ralston said only a skeleton staff remained while the rest stayed at home. He said: "Our message is that the Government cannot arbitrarily cut staff without it having a negative impact on local public services."

Weymouth Land Registry staff went on strike as well.

Chairman of the Weymouth District Land Registry branch George Walker said: "We aren't faceless bureaucrats, we are a hard-working diverse workforce who provide vital services to the public."