SCHOOLS and libraries stood empty and rubbish bins went uncollected while council staff marched through the streets at the start of a two-day strike over pay.
The industrial action has forced the closure of 14 schools in Bournemouth and 10 in Poole.
Bins stood uncollected on streets in Poole and the New Forest on day one of the strike, while the Nuffield Recycling Centre in Poole was closed for the day. A similar level of disruption is likely today.
All of Bournemouth's libraries, along with some in Poole and Dorset, were shut and two children's centres in Poole were also closed.
Transport for school children and day centre visitors in Dorset was disrupted, as were many everyday services at town halls and the county council.
The strike also saw protest marches and rallies at Bournemouth and Poole as workers made their feelings known.
More than 100 staff took part in the Bournemouth event, handing out leaflets and appealing for support from shoppers and motorists.
Chris Spreadbury, who works at Boscombe Neighbourhood Nursery, said: "We want a fair day's pay. There's a lot of people here who are under the normal pay structure.
"The cost of living is going up and up, and yet the council want to cap what they pay us. People have just had enough," he added.
And Becky Walsh, who works for Bournemouth Tourism, said: "We don't want to lose two days' pay, but we have to do this if we don't want to lose out in the long run.
"I don't think people understand what council pay is like. There's bad press about the wages of top managers, but ordinary rank and file workers don't earn anything like near enough."
In Poole, some 70 council workers and their families marched around the civic centre and then on to Poole Park for a series of heartfelt speeches.
Acting Poole branch secretary Cheryl Owen said: "We continue to help the council make savings while maintaining good services, but at the same time we are being undervalued with a pay offer that is insulting."
She added: "We work really hard and we enjoy our jobs and we enjoy serving the public but we need to be given respect for that."
In the New Forest, Council information offices in Fordingbridge, Lymington and New Milton were closed and the Lymington Visitor Information Centre could only offer a reduced service.
East Dorset District Council was forced to close its counter to people claiming housing and council tax benefit until Friday.
Christchurch and North Dorset councils both reported no effect on frontline services.
The local government employers insist they cannot afford a bigger pay rise without hitting services.
