WELFARE payments, courts, tax offices, Jobcentres and driving tests could all be disrupted as civil servants from the Exeter area are expected to join strike action.

A 48-hour stoppage on Monday and Tuesday has been called by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). Union officials say it is currently unclear how many workers will join the strike but they expect a "good response". They anticipate that court services will be "kept to a minimum" while Jobcentres are "likely to close".

It is part of a dispute over changes to workers' redundancy terms.

Union bosses said the strike affects about 15,000 South West members — 1,500 in Exeter — who joined a national vote which was two to one in support of the walkout.

Martin Menear the South West vice-chairman of the PCS said: "We expect a good response from Exeter. This action is against the absolute slaughter of public services."

Jessica Pierce, PCS regional secretary at Exeter said the Government's changes would see staff "robbed of up to a third of their entitlements".

She said it will also result in civil and public servants losing thousands of pounds if they are forced out of their jobs.

"The Government is looking to save £500 million through the changes, based on the number of jobs it has axed over the last three years," she said.

"With all the main political parties planning deep spending cuts, the union fears that the cuts to the scheme will lead to tens of thousands of job losses on the cheap.

"The Government claims it cannot prevent bankers' bonuses being paid because they are contractual, but appears happy to rip up the rights of its own workforce and change the law to do so.

"Strike action is a last resort and we have suggested ways in which the Government can make its savings whilst protecting the rights of existing members."