The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that it cannot rule out more strikes in the wake of yesterday's walkout, which disrupted the education of thousands of Keighley pupils.

Most local secondary schools scrapped lessons for pupils aged 11-16 and many primary schools were closed or partially closed as the largest teaching union in the country called its first strike in 21 years.

The teachers were protesting about the Government's latest pay offer of 2.45 per cent. They are demanding the same rate as inflation, presently 4.1 per cent.

Bradford NUT branch secretary Ian Murch, who spoke at an NUT rally at Bradford City Football Club, said thousands of teachers had supported the strike.

He said: "About 250 were at the rally and they were very passionate about the campaign they were fighting. I spoke along with a teacher from Salt Grammar School, who talked about the problems facing young teachers because of housing and mortgages becoming more expensive and the interest on repaying student loans going up.

"Quite a lot of young teachers are saying that life is quite difficult for them in terms of making ends meet."

Members of the University & College Union - including staff from Park Lane College Keighley - also attended the rally to press for a pay rise in line with that of school teachers.

Mr Murch said: "People know that there is a lot more to do to make the Government change its mind but it is a sign of the mood that they are quite angry - the Government dismisses the idea that teachers are having a problem.

"We have had a few messages of support from members of the public here at the union but no complaints have come through to us. It is the first strike we have called in more than 20 years and we have not disrupted exams or school trips. We haven't struck in relation to children who have serious disabilities.

"The aim was to express ourselves without doing any serious damage to anybody."

Mr Murch said the strike was part of a campaign that will include teachers from different constituencies lobbying the Government in parliament, and there will be a petition.

He said the union would not rule out further strikes in the future.

He added: "We will review that very carefully. I cannot say that we won't strike again. We will give the Government some time to respond to these campaigns first."