Strike action by Helensburgh and Lomond teachers will go ahead this week – with further disruption set to hit schools in February and March.

Argyll and Bute Council has written to parents to confirm that all schools in the local authority will be closed on Thursday, February 2 as members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) take part in industrial action.

All early years settings will remain open, with the exceptions of Arinagour Nursery on the Isle of Coll and Tayvallich's pre-5 unit.

In addition to this date, the council said it has had notification of planned action by the unions on February 28 and March 1.

The letter to parents said: “Due to the strict rules surrounding strike action we will have no alternative option other than to close all our schools on both these days due to the staff numbers involved and we would ask, once again, that you arrange childcare for these days.

"Negotiations are ongoing between Scottish Government and teaching unions and hopefully a resolution will be found over the coming weeks."