Lecturers at Richmond College are set go on strike in a row over pay cuts and redundancies.

Members of the University and College (UCU) Union at the college in Egerton Road, Twickenham, will walk out on Thursday.

Stephen Grant, the UCU’s branch secretary, said the college wanted to axe teaching posts and cut middle managers’ pay, which the union believed will be “enormously damaging”.

The humanities lecturer said: “It’s something that will potentially make the college unworkable because key middle managers will not be able to do their job.

“It creates an incredible sense of demoralisation when you see senior managers cutting posts and simply will not listen to what staff unions are saying.”

He said 80 per cent of the college’s 260 union members voted for industrial action.

Mr Grant, who divides his time between lecturing and managing courses, said staff will have to teach larger classes if the college axes jobs.

Pedro Diogo, of Richmond College’s Students’ Union, said students would join lecturers in walking out on Thursday.

He said: “At the moment some of the classes are pretty packed, and in some cases there are not enough seats for the students to sit.”

The college said it was disappointed staff had decided to strike, adding that it had suffered from Government cuts and faced financial pressures.

David Ansell, principal of Richmond College, said: “I am disappointed that a decision has been taken to call for strike action. I believe the union is responding in an irresponsible way to management’s plans to ensure that the future of the college is financially secure.

“My concern is to ensure a sustainable future for the college and allow our professional and valued workforce to continue to serve young people, business and the wider community.

“Even in these uncertain times, the college is committed to ensuring that all students receive the highest quality teaching enabling students to fulfil their personal ambitions, whether to go on to university or go straight into employment.

“We are currently considering our response to the strike and what action we will need to take to minimise disruption to our students. We shall communicate directly with our students and parents to advise them about arrangements for the days in question.”