Lessons were cancelled at colleges across Sussex today as lecturers joined a national strike in a protest over pay.

The two-day action affects Hastings College, Northbrook College, Worthing, and both Lewes and Eastbourne campuses of the South Downs College.

More than 30,000 further and higher education lecturers were expected to strike across the country in a bid to bridge the gap between lecturer and school teacher pay.

Members of lecturers' union the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) claim a ten per cent difference in pay exists between the two and rejected a 1.5 per cent pay increase, describing it as insulting.

Dr Mike Wilkinson, chairman of the union's Lewes branch, said: "Starting salaries for a full-time lecturer cannot compete with those offered in schools, nor does the average classroom pay for lecturers compare with that for school teachers, and no one pretends they are overpaid for their work."

He said strike action was the only way to bring the plight of college lecturers to the notice of the Government.

Colleges vowed to keep disruption to a minimum and expected staff to return to work on Thursday.

Those sitting exams would take them as usual, with extra staff drafted in if necessary.

Des Lambert, acting principal of Plumpton College, said: "The teachers have the option to strike. They have the right to do so and it is as simple as that."

Mr Lambert was unable to say yet how many had decided to go on strike but he added as many of them looked after livestock they would have to continue to fulfil those responsibilities.

The college provides courses in agriculture, animal care and equine care and forestry.

At Northbrook College, Union Place, Worthing, teachers formed a picket line.

John Bateman, union branch spokesman and lecturer in business studies, led a group of about 20 handing out leaflets at the college gates.

He said: "We are losing lecturers to school teaching because pay is better. Morale is low and staff turnover is high.

"It is really about the Government helping by injecting money and rescuing us from years of neglect.

"The majority of full-time lecturers have gone on strike here and we have not seen many people cross the picket line. Mainly it is being observed.

"The college is very quiet and we are trying to minimise the impact on students.

"We have not got a problem with college management but what has happened is the college has not been given enough money."

Mr Bateman said the 1.5 per cent pay rise they had been offered was insulting as the college lecturers did a comparable job to school teachers but were paid about £5,000 less.

"We are angry because it is a bit of an insult and we have to strike to get any sort of decent pay rise.

"It is a sad comment on the state of our industrial relations.

"Once we explain to people what is going on we are getting a fair bit of sympathy and the college management sympathises with us."