Civil servants in Northern Ireland are striking this week as part of a continuing pay dispute.

The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) has rejected a government offer of 4.65 per cent over 16 months.

As a result, staff at the planning office in Belfast have been taking part in the industrial action.

Other workers based at the planning office in Omagh and in the Strabane local government are also set to stop work later this week.

NIPSA general secretary John Corey warned that the action could spread to staff at the Department of Agriculture.

"We are reviewing the position with MOT centres and that action could be suspended provided we receive certain assurances from government," he added.

Meanwhile, officials said the strike was delaying the processing of planning applications in Omagh, Strabane, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Cookstown, Belfast City, Castlereagh and Newtownabbey.

"We regret the impact of the strike action on our customers but are looking at ways to minimise disruption," said a planning service spokesman.