GREEK public-sector workers shut down services today during their 24-hour strike against austerity policies imposed in return for the country’s bailout of private banks.

Hospitals, tax offices, prisons and archaeological sites were disrupted by the action.

Public transport was not affected, but some roads in central Athens were shut down for demonstrations by the public service Adedy and the Pame union affiliate of the Communist Party.

The strike coincided with the return to Athens of debt inspectors from the “troika” of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission to monitor the government’s attacks on living standards.

The austerity measures include slashing salaries and pensions by 40 per cent.

The troika has praised Greece’s progress in meeting the targets set.

They say that it has achieved a “primary budget surplus,” with its deficit wiped out apart from interest owed on the bailout.