BENEFIT payments were delayed and appointments cancelled by striking staff.

More than 400 members of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bromley and Croydon branch of the Public and Commercial Services Union went on strike last Thursday and Friday.

They work for the DWP in Jobcentres, benefit offices, pension centres and the Child Support Agency.

Branch secretary Nick Diamantis said: "We're concerned about benefit payments and we regret delays but we have had to take action to protect our members' jobs. We're doing this for the public and to save the welfare state as we know it."