SCHOOLS throughout St Helens are to shut today, Thursday, as part of the National Union of Teachers strike.

The national strike, which is the first for 21 years, has been organised following a dispute over pay.

Eleven St Helens primary schools, including Lyme Primary School, Newton, will be closed for the day, with St Mary's Infant School and Newton Primary School along with 24 others staying partially open.

All of the council's secondary schools are affected by the walk-out, with four closing and six staying partially open.

St Aelred's Catholic Technology College will remain partially open, with classes having to group together due to the missing teachers.