A general strike in Belgium caused the closure of Charleroi Airport yesterday, leading Ryanair to cancel eight flights, including flights to and from Dublin.

The company placed a notice on its website advising people who had booked tickets on the flights affected, that they could claim a refund or book alternative tickets. Charleroi is a European hub for Ryanair.

The 24-hour strike was in protest against the Belgian government's plan to raise the age for early retirement from 58 to 60.

Employees from all sectors, pre-empting a nationwide strike planned for Friday, stayed away from work, forcing the city's buses to stay in their garages, schools to suspend class, and hospitals to operate with just skeleton staff.

Talks between the government and unions on reform of the pension system broke down two weeks ago.

"Charleroi is very much affected by unemployment and that is why they have decided not to wait until Friday to take strike action," said Diana De Crop, a spokeswoman for the Christian trade union ACV/CSC.

Charleroi, a victim of the decline of Belgium's steel and coal industries, has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. - (Additional reporting: Reuters)