COLLEGE lecturers in Southampton have backed plans to stage two 24-hour strikes at the start of the next school term in September.

Southampton City College members of the lecturing union, NAFTHE, met recently to consider how far they should go in their latest pay dispute.

The national campaign demanded a £3,000 across the board rise for lecturers to bring them into line with school teachers.

But the employing body refused and a one-day strike was held last month in six colleges across southern Hampshire, and 180 nationwide.

Now lecturers are planning to hit colleges as new students are trying to settle in.

Southampton City College union chairman Terry Jones said: "Members see they have little choice, that they have to back up their actions.

"As we know with industrial action it's all about stating what you're going to do so that employers will talk to us."