PUBLIC transport services across Northern Ireland will be cancelled on Friday due to mass strike action against spending cuts, operator Translink announced yesterday.

Translink said that it would be unable to run any buses or trains due to the industrial action.

Members of public-sector unions are staging a 24-hour walkout to protest against spending cuts and job losses mandated by Stormont. 

Trade union leaders warned that the action would be the biggest in many years, with workers from GMB and Unite joining in.

“I would like to apologise to all our passengers who will be inconvenienced by this strike action,” said Translink spokesman Ciaran Roga.

“I think it is important to give people as much notice as possible in order that they may make alternative arrangements for travel on that day.”

He did not list any passenger options, but said he was in communication with the Education and Library Boards to discuss options if schools opened on Friday.

Members of the Unison, Nipsa and GMB unions working in health, education, the Civil Service, transport and a range of other public enterprises will also strike.

They are angry at Stormont budgets that have hacked millions from public spending, a scheme to reduce the Civil Service by 20,000 and a proposed cut in corporation tax.

The fate of both the redundancy scheme and the devolution of corporation tax powers from Westminster are uncertain as a row over welfare reforms threatens the Stormont agreement.