Staff today reacted with anger after it emerged a college principal enjoyed a pay deal five times greater than most lecturers.

With salary, pension contributions and bonuses, Ann Smith, principal at City College Brighton and Hove, took home £145,000 in 2005 - more than Tony Blair's £125,000 Prime Minister's salary.

The college's annual report for 2005 reveals Mrs Smith and four senior postholders received eight to ten per cent pay rises, taking their salaries to many times that of lecturers, who earn between £23,000 and £32,000.

Bonuses of ten per cent of salary were also agreed for five senior employees.

Mrs Smith, Sussex Businessperson of the Year in 2004, gets a salary of £108,000 before bonuses and pension contributions.

Lecturer Peter Sutcliffe, University and College Lecturers' Union representative at City College, Pelham Street, Brighton, said: "It seems unreasonable the senior staff and principal should get these pay rises when the rest of the staff are getting a lot less.

"We do understand they have demanding jobs but we would like to see the rest of the staff getting pay rises to reflect the hard work they also do. We want to see a reduction in these large differentials."

A member of the support staff, who did not want to be named, said: "The principal has had a lot of success but she couldn't have done it without the support of the rest of the staff.

"We have worked very hard to turn the college around and should share in the good fortune."

Alex Knutsen, of Unison, representing non-teaching staff at the college, said: "Unison is concerned by these large amounts for the top salaries and would like to know if it has an impact on the finances of the college as a whole.

"It seems excessive to have such significant pay rises as well as ten per cent bonuses.

"It is not fair for the rest of the staff who actually teach the students and maintain the buildings."

City College chairman Martin Perry said: "The board of governors recognises the contribution made by staff at all levels in the college.

"The college is now recognised as the leading further education provider in Brighton and Hove and it is of paramount importance our pay scales recognise the significant achievements of the last few years.

"We take into account the national benchmarks for all levels of staff and have taken the lead in adopting the harmonised pay scales recommended by the Association of Colleges for staff and ensured the remuneration of our principal and senior post-holders fairly reflects the excellent performance and contribution they have made to the college."