The Council says it provided information to ratepayers about possible service disruption via a flyer delivered to homes and businesses and on its website, which was updated on a regular basis.

The Bin collection service was operating, with some disruption, and the council says it provided an 80% collection rate for bins during the two days of action.

If a bin was not collected, householders are being asked to put it back out again next Wednesday or Thursday along with the other bin normally due for collection on this day.

Extra bin bags will be collected on those dates if required, although these may be collected by a separate vehicle.

The council also says a 'full quota of services' was operated at Lagan Valley Island, including the Chief Executive's Office, Corporate Services, Environmental Services, Building Control, Environmental Health, Economic Development and the two Council Tourist Information Centres at Lisburn and Hillsborough were open as normal.

The Council's Registration Service, operating Births, Deaths, Marriages and the Cemetery Service also operated as normal.

The Irish Linen Centre was open for business as was the Bridge Community Centre and Aberdelghy Golf Course. The Lagan Valley LeisurePlex was closed to the public, as were the Council's Activity Centres and the SportsZone at Laurelhill.

The Chief Executive, Mr Norman Davidson, said: "This was a national strike and inevitably there was some disruption to Council service provision. However the vast majority of our services were delivered. I apologise to ratepayers for any inconvenience as a result of the strike action, and would like to assure customers that we ensured that services were delivered as far as were practical given the circumstances."

The strike was called after the staff across the UK rejected a 2.5% pay rise. They are looking for a 6 per cent pay deal or an increase of 50p per hour which they say they need just to maintain their standard of living.

However, speaking on behalf of council employers in Northern Ireland, Councillor Jimmy Spratt said: "Council employers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been in discussions with the trade unions regarding pay for some months now and have proposed increases in pay that are at the limit of what we can afford. The action by those unions that have voted for industrial action is particularly regrettable in light of the fact that only about 7% of employees covered by this pay offer have actually voted to strike."

He went on to say: "The pay offer that has been made, we believe, maintains local government as an attractive place to work whilst still being affordable to the rate-payer. The offer of 2.45% with £100 extra for the lowest three pay grades is at the limit of affordability and represents our best, and final, offer."

Lily Kerr of Unison said: "Taking strike action is never an easy choice, particularly for the low paid, but workers have been left with no other option.

"These workers do not want to be on a picket line, but in their workplace delivering public services. UNISON is calling on the employers to come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer."