PROTESTERS have disrupted a university open day in opposition to pay cuts for teaching staff.

Around 50 students, tutors and lecturers gathered outside the Cockcroft building at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb campus from around noon today.

Some protesters were able to get into the foyer of the main building to unfurl banners and chant while others, prevented from getting inside by university security, staged a sit-in protest at the entrance.

Around ten Sussex Police officers were also on the scene to oversee proceedings.

The protest, which began at The Level before marching up Lewes Road, was held to coincide with an open day for prospective students to the school of computing, engineering and mathematics.

Lecturers at the school were recently “demoted” to demonstrators resulting in a 70 per cent pay cut.

The University and College Union have responded to the cuts by calling a number of strike days.

A University of Brighton spokesman said: "No staff have been demoted. "This was a student protest, which relates to an issue involving a small number of part-time research student employees.

"It was peaceful and the effect on the university's open day was minimal.

"Visiting families enjoyed tours, a range of taster sessions and talks and had every opportunity to find more about the exceptional higher education courses and facilities this university offers."

For more on this story, see Monday’s Argus.