LONDON, July 16, 2008 (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers went on strike across Britain Wednesday in a dispute over wages, trades unions said, while Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged them to stop the action.

Members of the Unite and Unison unions walked out for 48 hours in protest over a rejected pay increase of 2.45 percent, proposed by local councils, which employers have insisted is their final offer.

Separately, Public and Commercial Services Union members will walk out at various points over the coming days in their own pay row.

It is claimed that 300,000 local council workers are on strike alone.

'The cost of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas, and electricity are going through the roof -- our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay,' said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

'Strike action is always a last resort but we have been left with no choice.'

Brown called on those involved to 'cease this action' during his weekly question and answer session with lawmakers Wednesday.

'I think it's very important that employers and employees get together to bring a solution to these disputes,' he said.

The widespread strikes come just a day after official data showed British 12-month inflation jumped to a 16-year high point of 3.8 percent in June, owing to big rises for food and fuel prices.

Jan Parkinson, the managing director of the Local Government Employers, said the group remained 'willing to talk to the unions on a constructive basis about the future employment conditions of our workforce, but this week's strikes will not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer.'