MORE than 1,000 students had their classes axed in Bolton today as lecturers and other college staff staged a one-day strike.

Staff at Bolton Community College joined thousands of their colleagues from all over the country for the strike after rejecting a 2.3 per cent pay offer.

College chiefs closed the Manchester Road campus as well as all the other satellite teaching centres across the town for health and safety reasons.

Lecturers are demanding a pay increase to bring their salary into line with that of teachers in state schools after a survey found the gap had widened to 12 per cent in recent years.

More than 100 people, including lecturers and support staff, walked out for the joint-union protest involving members of Unison and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE).

Members from the two unions picketed both entrances to the college and handed out leaflets detailing their pay demands.

Unison branch secretary, Pauline Dixon, said: "Members of both unions feel soul destroyed by the pay offer. "We just want parity with other local government workers instead of having to feel like second-class citizens. Nobody takes strike action lightly, but everyone is fed-up and this was the only option." The regional official from NATFHE, Colin Gledhill, was due to visit the college today to lend his support to Bolton lecturers.

He said: "Obviously we regret having to take these issues out on the customers of the college.

"But the parity of pay question cannot be ignored."

A spokesman from the college, said: "Due to concerns relating to health and safety, Bolton Community College has decided to close all its centres across the borough for the whole day and evening to all students and visitors."

"Provision has been made at the college's Manchester Road centre for college staff wishing to work that day.

"The community college would like to apologise to all students and visitors affected by these closures which are due to circumstances beyond their control."

MORE than 1,000 students had their classes axed today as lecturers and other college staff staged a one-day strike.

Staff at Bolton Community College joined thousands of their colleagues from all over the country for the strike after rejecting a 2.3 per cent pay offer.

College chiefs closed the Manchester Road campus as well as all the other satellite teaching centres across the town for health and safety reasons.

Lecturers are demanding a pay increase to bring their salary into line with that of teachers in state schools after a survey found the gap had widened to 12 per cent in recent years.

More than 100 people, including lecturers and support staff, walked out for the joint-union protest involving members of Unison and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE).

Members from the two unions picketed both entrances to the college and handed out leaflets detailing their pay demands.

Unison branch secretary, Pauline Dixon, said: "Members of both unions feel soul destroyed by the pay offer. Nobody takes strike action lightly, but everyone is fed-up and this was the only option."

A spokesman from the college, said: "Due to concerns relating to health and safety, Bolton Community College has decided to close all its centres across the borough for the whole day and evening to all students and visitors."