Lecturers at one of the country's largest colleges have called an all-out strike from Monday.

Staff at the 42,000-student Leicester College are striking over a contract that their union, Natfhe, says changes conditions of service without negotiation.

Some 220 Natfhe members are being offered a one-off payment of £1,800 if they sign the contract, which also cutstheir holiday entitlement by four days.

Of the 160 lecturers who took part in a strike ballot, 75 per cent are in favour of industrial action.

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Management at Leicester College said that the new contract was reasonable, voluntary and involved no loss of pay.

Marianne Harris-Bridge, director of corporate affairs, said: "We are disappointed with the union's intention to try to disrupt the learning experiences of our students."

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The college, she added, had taken steps to ensure that "a full educational provision would be running as usual".