Civil servants plan to march through the streets in a protest over jobs cuts, office closures and threats to pensions.

The strike action tomorrow follows an announcement that 344 tax jobs are under threat at HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend, Basildon and Shoebury.

The Public and Commercial Services Union expects more than 1,500 workers to join the march from Alexandra House, in Southend, to a rally outside WH Smith in the High Street.

Fiona Staff, branch secretary for HM Revenue and Customs, said the loss of so many workers could lead Southend to become a "ghost town".

She said: "Southend is a high street economy and, without the workers who use the shops and services in the high street, businesses will relocate to avoid the inevitable losses that would result if the proposals go ahead."

She said the job cuts would also drastically increase the unemployment rate in Southend, leaving workers struggling to find jobs elsewhere.

Ms Staff added: "In some cases, three generations of one family are employed by the Government and the town will definitely struggle to employ these people elsewhere, particularly if other businesses relocate."

The union is organising strikes across the country to protest against the 12,500 Civil Service jobs the Government plans to get rid of by 2010.

These national strikes could effect the millions of self-assessment tax ret-urns, which are due in before the January 31 deadline.

Ms Staff said civil servants were essential for processing benefits and pensions, as well as preventing hard drugs and illegal material being readily available on the streets.

She said: "The simple reality is without these people the country would come to a standstill."

The rally will be held outside WH Smith, in Southend High Street, at 11am.