Civil servants are set to strike next month in protests over a government imposed caps on pay rises.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced the plans on Thursday following a vote by members backing industrial action.

The one day strike on November 10 is set to affect at least six government departments and agencies, with members working in tax offices, jobcentres, and immigration all expected to take part in the walk out.

Union leaders have warned that the national strike will be followed by more targeted industrial action and a ban on overtime.

Members have expressed frustration at the government’s two per cent cap on pay rises, arguing that they are already badly paid with some earning less than £15,000.

Officials expressed some anger last month when the Office for National Statistics had to give emergency pay rises to staff in order to keep their wage packets above the minimum wage.

General secretary Mark Serwotka described such low wages were as “unsustainable” in the face of double digit rises in living costs and called for civil service leaders to come to the negotiation table.

“There is a three week opportunity to avoid damaging industrial action, in which the government can pay heed to the Bank of England’s warning on the economic consequences of the squeeze on wages,” he said.

But the government have criticised the union's plans. Cabinet Office minister Tom Watson said the ballot result had been very close.

"Nearly half of PCS members taking part in the ballot rejecting strike action," he said. "In the current economic climate we believe it is the wrong action at the wrong time. We urge the PCS to continue negotiating."