One of the biggest strikes in the UK over equal pay went ahead this morning as thousands of women walked out in the dispute with Glasgow City Council.

A rally was taking place in the city centre as unions reported a big turnout with up to 8,000 care workers, school meals staff and others responding to the call for the two-day stoppage today and tomorrow.

The council said the action would have a 'devastating' impact with hundreds of schools and nurseries closed and disruption of personal care for thousands of people.

Susan Aitken, the city council's SNP leader, said the strike was unnecessary and claimed her administration remained committed to agreeing a settlement by the end of the year.

'I am entirely on the side of the women on this and have been from day one,' she told the BBC. 'The women have to all intents and purposes won their case.'

But Rhea Wolfson, Scotland organiser for the GMB public sector union, said the strikers had lost faith in the SNP’s resolution process.

’We do not question the commitment that the council leader has to this cause, but what we are seeing right now is the council officers not putting in place her intentions,’ she said.