BANGOR University students are showing their support for their lecturers during the strike action against staff pension cuts.

Thursday will sees the staff's first strike against nationwide changes to the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

It is estimated an average lecturer could lose around £9,000 a year in retirement benefits.

The University and College Union announced 14 days of escalating action during February and March.

The strike dates are February 22, 23, 26, 27 and 28, and March 5 to 8 and March 12 to 16.

Dr Penny Dowdney, President of the Bangor Branch of UCU said: "We will be supporting the national UCU strike action in order to protect our pensions."

"Bangor members will be supporting the strike action by picketing, rallies and teach outs. I would support any reopening of national negotiations and would hope that a speedy resolution can be achieved’.

Students will also protesting outside of the Bangor University's Deiniol Library, from 8.30am, on Thursday, February 22 - the first day of staff action.

The student support has also been backed by Arfon MP Hywel Williams a former Bangor University member of staff.

He said: "These cuts will also discriminate by age. Those close to retirement might get off lightly whilst those embarking on a career in lecturing will face uncertainty in retirement.

"The potential consequences on staff recruitment and retention at Bangor and other affected Universities is enormous."

Third year student Katie Medlin, studying Zoology with Herpetology, said: "We students feel it’s important to show support for the lecturers for a variety of reasons.

"For me, it’s because my lecturers are the reason why I stayed at university. They’re more than lecturers to me and they’ve supported me through thick and thin. With the proposed pension cuts many lecturers will struggle to afford essentials, and that’s not a life that anyone deserves, let alone the people that spend their lives educating and supporting others.

"The strike is 14 days of our lives, but the outcome is our lecturers’ futures."

Vice Chancellor Professor John G Hughes said: "It is pleasing to see that our BU students will be supporting staff by demonstrating, participating in teach outs and making sure that pickets have a constant supply of tea and coffee. Having student support during a period of strike action is fantastic."

Striking staff are holding a series of 'teach outs,' a varied programme of talks by staff and students open to the public.

The first events, run from 1pm - 4.30pm, at the Quaker Meeting House, Deiniol Road, on Thursday, February 22 and from Monday, February 26 and Tuesday February 27 are in the Vestry of Emaus Chapel Garth Road/ Love Lane, Bangor.