SOLICITORS are targeting female council workers in the North-East, asking them to take legal action against their employers over the pay packet gender gap.

A law firm, working with former trade union officials, is said to be arranging public meetings and distributing leaflets, urging women to take out equal pay claims against local authorities in the region.

They are being promised a big pay-out if they successfully take action against councils over differences in pay with male colleagues.

Workers throughout the Tees Valley are said to have been approached, but council and union bosses have joined forces to urge people not to jeopardise on-going pay talks.

Darlington Borough Council and trade unions have sent out a joint letter, which said jobs and local services could be put in danger.

The letter said that the council and unions were committed to fair pay for everyone and were reaching their goal slowly, through a job evaluation process.

It said that taking out equal pay claims could delay the procedure and any increase which workers may be entitled to.

Unison representative Alan Docherty said: "If money goes out of the system it will have an impact on other employees in terms of jobs.

"The council would have to make contingencies for that - and that is money they could have been spending on services."

"We fully endorse the letter. There is an issue involving equal pay and the unions are working to try to solve it through the process of job evaluation. That will hopefully get people the wages they require."

A council spokesman said: "Some employees have been contacted by solicitors who are thinking they can get in on the act here. What we are saying to our employees is please talk to us first."

Demonstrations were held in the region last year, as female workers protested that they earned a third less than their male counterparts.