LECTURERS are to be axed as further cuts bite at a Worcester college.

Worcestershire College of Technology chiefs have told staff 20 full-time equivalent posts are at risk, although it is not yet known in what departments.

Two business support staff roles will also have to go. The college has said it is still informing affected staff and will make a formal comment in the “forthcoming days”.

The news comes after the college last week announced it was shutting half its study centres, with the loss of 10 people’s jobs across five (full-time equivalent) posts.

The college has already confirmed plans to shut its nursery in St John’s and the mobile nursery unit, together with a shake-up of its refectory – all leading to further job losses.

Unions have blasted the latest move to swing the axe on lecturers, saying the college’s bosses can no longer say the cuts will not affect the quality of students’ education.

The University and College Union (UCU) and Unison have been told about the cuts.

The college is trying to find £2 million in savings and has seen the Government’s grant funding for the college’s functional skills alone cut from £833,000 to £347,000 for the coming academic year, Unison says.

Steve Brown, Unison representative, said the college had shown a poor record “properly consulting staff” in recent weeks and had damaged staff morale.

Nick Varney, UCU spokesman, said: “Twenty teaching jobs are at risk.

“While we recognise the challenges to the college, we don’t think this is being handled well by the college management.”

A college spokeswoman said it was talking to staff. “Generally, the college is currently consulting with staff over a programme of redundancy.”