CREWE and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody has welcomed Government plans for a referendum on the European Union constitution.

The poll is expected to be held early next year. The question will be: 'Should the United Kingdom approve the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union?'

Mrs Dunwoody said: 'I welcome the fact that we are to get a full discussion. There are some questions outstanding.

'Will the EU provide a large budget for one side of the campaign? Will those figures be made public? What role will the EU play in the 'Yes' campaign and will British civil servants be involved?'

THOUSANDS of council workers are voting on whether to take strike action.

The ballot could lead to walkouts as part of a national cross-union protest over Government plans to change public sector pensions.

Votes at Unison and the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) will be counted on March 9 and Unison has warned of strike action soon after.

The unions have thousands of members at Cheshire County Council, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, and Congleton Borough Council.

Union leaders are furious the Government is pushing public sector pension changes from April, which would see retirement age of men and women raised from 60 to 65 and changes to early retirement packages.

A 'yes' vote may spark industrial unrest, weeks before the General Election, expected on May 5.

THE Annual Science Week, organised by the South Cheshire SET UP Science organisation, is being arranged for March 11 to 18.

Fifty presentations will take place in a secondary schools programme and more than 70 in a programme for primary schools.

SET UP Science was founded by Soroptimist International of Nantwich and District, and the Women's Engineering Society under the auspices of the British Association.

Last year the organisation organised 116 presentations and benefited 3,693 children and young people.

The charity offers young people the opportunity to interact with science, engineering and technology, and aims to stimulate and encourage their continuing participation in the future.