PRESSURE mounted on the Tories yesterday to end the public-sector pay cap after a petition demanding a parliamentary debate on the issue attracted more than 100,000 signatures.

The petition by union Unison calls on the government to lift the 1 per cent pay cap and give everyone who works in schools, hospitals, local councils, government departments and police forces a decent wage rise.

This must be backed with extra resources, or jobs and services will have to be cut, putting overstretched services under even greater pressure, it said.

The calls follow seven years of below-inflation pay rises which have seen public-sector workers struggle to get by.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Pressure on the Chancellor is building to come up with the cash that can deliver proper pay rises that at least match the cost of living, without services and jobs having to be cut.

"The Prime Minister has the perfect opportunity this week at her party conference to signal an end to this attack on public services once and for all."

GMB, Unison and Unite warned yesterday that unless the government comes up with the cash for a decent pay rise for police staff this year, jobs and services will be have to be cut.

In a joint statement the unions claimed that the police force is not in a position to make a pay offer for police community support officers, 999 call handlers and investigators without funding from the Home Office.

The pay award announced for police officers last month amounts to a 1 per cent pay rise and a 1 per cent bonus — but on Monday, it emerged that forces will have to find money from their existing budgets at a cost of £96 million.

According to unions, police employers say there is no point discussing the pay of police staff unless ministers make more funding available.

GMB said its research shows that police staff are suffering from overwork and stress, and some were forced to rely on their parents' help with the costs of feeding and clothing their children.

The Unison petition: Pay Up Now! – Scrap the pay cap and give public servants a meaningful pay rise - is available at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200032