Britain is in the grip of a wave of militancy by millions of public sector workers as unions threaten to 'unleash hell' on an incoming Conservative government.

Alarming figures reveal the number of days lost to strike action in the public sector is now 15 times higher than in the private sector, prompting concerns about the growing readiness of union leaders to flex their muscles.

These figures are particularly startling as it is private sector workers that have so far borne the brunt of the recession, taking the vast majority of pay cuts, pay freezes and redundancies.

Staff from the Royal Courts of Justice take part in a two-day strike yesterday organised by the Public and Commercial Services

Yet Labour's union paymasters, who are bankrolling the party's election campaign, are preparing further strike plans.

There will be angry clashes tomorrow when tens of thousands of senior public sector workers are expected to be told they will get a pay freeze this year, like many of their private sector counterparts.

Chancellor Alistair Darling has written to salary review bodies calling on them to freeze the pay of around 40,000 judges, senior NHS managers and GPs.

Alistair Darling has asked salary review bodies to freeze the pay of around 40,000 judges, senior NHS managers and GPs

In addition, about 700,000 middle-ranking public servants, including doctors, dentists and prison officers, would get a rise of between zero and 1 per cent, if the bodies accept the Chancellor's recommendations.

Gordon Brown faces the difficult backdrop of public sector workers on picket lines at the height of an election campaign, with ensuing chaos for the public.

Yesterday the Public and Commercial Services Union claimed 'widespread disruption' following a strike by up to 200,000 civil servants.

The two-day strike, which continues today, hit many key public services from 999 operators and immigration officials to courts and coastguards.

It was triggered by a bitter and long-running dispute with the Government over changes to redundancy payoffs.

Yesterday the strike meant 1,600 driving tests were cancelled, while around 100 police officers were drafted in to man 999 emergency lines in London.

At Gatwick airport and at ferry terminals, the union claimed up to 70 per cent of staff were on strike.

Public sector unions are already threatening a greatly increased rate of strikes in 2010, in the face of urgently-needed public spending cuts.

According to one union source, they are building up a £25million war chest to 'unleash hell' on a Tory government.

Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, accused the public sector of 'throwing its toys out of the pram', while 'people in the private sector have long accepted the reality that these are tough times.'

He said: 'Public sector workers are far more likely to go on strike despite enjoying better pay, more generous pensions and far greater job security than workers in the private sector.'

But Mark Serwotka, leader of the PCS, said: 'The Government is tearing up civil servants' contracts in front of their eyes, yet claims it can do nothing about bankers' bonuses because of contractual obligations.'

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