DESPITE saving £194,000 in wages that were not paid out, the strike by refuse and other environmental workers in the borough earlier this year cost Thurrock Council £109,132.

The figure has been revealed in a freedom of information request and among the detail given was that the drop off sites set up in the latter days of the strike in April and May costs £6,000.

The strike was settled when the council agreed to drop the contested sections of its planned changes to pay and conditions for staff - which were earmarked to make an annual saving of £800,000.

The council may be facing up to another strike as members of the GMB union who work in the care sector have rejected their amended terms and conditions offer.