Staff at the DVLA office in Borehamwood took part in industrial action yesterday that closed the office for the day.

The one-day strike, organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PSC) union, was against plans to close regional offices and cut more than 1,000 jobs including those at the office in Elstree Way.

The plans are part of government proposals to centralise the DVLA to its main office in Swansea and move services online.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PSC, said: ''As well as losing a high quality public service and more than 1,000 jobs at a time of high unemployment, we believe these closures will lead to increased vehicle tax evasion and fraud.

''We want the minister to listen to the overwhelming views of the public, motor traders and his staff, and to see sense and reverse these ill-thought through and damaging closures.''

In a statement on its website, the DVLA has said it could not guarantee business as usual and advised customers to avoid travelling to offices during the day.

But motorists who had come from as far as Luton and Chingford arrived at the office throughout the day to find it closed.

Earlier this month the union delivered the largest ever paper petition to the Department of Transport headquarters, with more than 72,000 signatures against the planned closures.