Staff at Kendal College will be taking strike action later this month over pay.

Members of the University and College Union will be taking the industrial action on Tuesday January 29 and Tuesday February 12.

They will join colleagues from 16 other colleges across the UK following a pre-Christmas poll which saw 96 per cent of staff backing strike action.

They claim to have seen the value of their pay decline by 25 per cent over the last decade.

Kendal College said it offered staff a one per cent pay rise this year, as recommended by the Association of Colleges, but the union is asking for five per cent rise – matching the rise given to teachers in schools, funded by the Government.

Kelvin Nash, principal and chief executive of Kendal College, said: "I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that every member of staff gives to the college.

"Over the last decade, the FE sector has had to deal with an average 30 per cent funding cut, while our running and delivery costs have increased dramatically.

"As a result of government underfunding and with no change in that situation imminent, the college is unable to afford more than the current one per cent being paid.

"It is regrettable that we are in this situation, and my focus will be on keeping the college open and ensuring that our students and their studies are not adversely affected as a result of any industrial action.

"I fully understand the position and sympathise with the staffing body of Kendal College, and will obviously respect any actions and decisions they make going forward.

"Kendal College finances are classified as being ‘satisfactory’ and we have been under early financial intervention for the last two years with little change in our overall financial health position.

"Over recent months, in order to improve the college's finances and to allow us to invest more in staff and resource, I have been actively making savings and efficiencies, with these savings being used to secure the college’s ongoing ability to deliver first class education and training."

The union said further strike action would take place if the college refused to make a "decent" pay offer.

The union's regional official Iain Owens said: "Members at Kendal College are being forced to take strike action to secure fair pay.

"Staff have had enough of increasing workloads while their pay is eroded.

"The college needs to prioritise its staff and come back to us with a meaningful offer. If it refuses then further strikes are on the cards."