A TEACHERS leader tonight claimed that the "vast majority" of his members walked out as part of a one-day strike yesterday.

More than 100 schools in North Yorkshire closed or partly closed due to industrial action over pay, pensions and working conditions.

Steve White, regional organiser for Yorkshire and Humberside for the NASUWT union said: "I would say that the vast majority of our members took part in the industrial action."

Mr White acknowledged that children will have missed a days school and thousands of parents would have been inconvenienced by the strike action but said the scale of the walk-out confirmed the depth of feeling among NASUWT members.

"Teachers dont readily go on strike. It is exceptionally rare," said Mr White.

"The response of our members on Tuesday demonstrates the strength of feeling," he added.

"Teachers also have got children themselves and they are concerned about the education and care of their own kids and they wouldnt want to do anything that puts their own kids in jeopardy," he said.

Mr White said NASUWT members from Whitby, Thirsk and Scarborough travelled to the main rally in Sheffield, which saw around 2,000 striking teachers from the NASUWT and the NUT gather in the city centre.

The Government said it is "disappointed" that the two unions decided to take strike action in Yorkshire and Humberside, the East of England, the West Midlands and the East Midlands.

It said strikes would disrupt parents lives, hold back childrens education and damage the reputation of the teaching profession.

In a recent public opinion poll 61 per cent of those questioned backed linking teachers pay to performances, a key Government reform currently being introduced.

Today's strike is the latest in a wave of regional strikes.

A further one-day strike is planned in the North-East on October 17.