BOSSES at a college where lecturers are striking for two days next week say they aim to ensure students are not "adversely impacted".

The walkout at Bridgwater and Taunton College on Tuesday and Wednesday has been called following a ballot of University and College Union members.

Staff at the college sites in Taunton, Bridgwater and Cannington are demanding "fair pay" and the UCU warns of further action if "a decent offer" isn't put on the table.

UCU official Philippa Davey said: "The strike's going ahead.

"We're expecting a couple of hundred members to walk out - the majority of lecturing staff.

"We would expect every member to go on strike. They voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

"It's something they feel strongly about.

"The majority of students will understand that their lecturers don't withdraw their labour easily. No-one loses a day's pay for fun.

"It's about ensuring there are excellent lecturers and staff to support them and other students in the future.

"These are people absolutely committed to the students and giving them a fantastic education and student experience."

READ MORE: College staff could be set to go on strike over 'fair pay'

A college spokeswoman expressed disappointment at a "small number" of staff backing industrial action, although she respected their right to do so.

She added: "We will work to ensure any potential disruption will be minimal and ensure students are not adversely impacted by any action taken.

"The reality is that further education colleges are inadequately funded by central government. We recently took part in the national Love Our Colleges campaign to highlight the lack of central funding and we will continue to lobby hard for fairer funding.

"In order to mitigate the funding challenges we actively seek external funding to support investment in our facilities and resources ensuring our focus can remain on supporting students to achieve their full potential, gaining the qualifications and experience to equip them for future employment.

"Our staff members are crucial to student success and we recognise their professional focus on our student experiences, despite financial pressures.

"We remain one of the most successful colleges in the FE sector, which is reflected in the achievements of our students who continue to benefit from the BTC Advantage, with access to the best resources, learning and enrichment experiences that we can provide."