College lecturers set up picket lines in Bradford and Saltaire today as part of their union's national one-day strike.

Lecturers manned the picket lines outside Bradford and Shipley colleges leading to scores of students having their classes disrupted.

Carmel Gibbons, pictured, chairman of Shipley College branch of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), said more than 100 people had joined the strike, which she said had the support of students and non-union members of college staff.

NATFHE has called its national strike following a request for a pay rise which, it says, will bring lecturers' salaries up to the levels of school teachers.

Ms Gibbons said things had been quiet on the picket lines in Exhibition Road and Victoria Road, Saltaire, adding: "It's been very well supported. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. It's not in our interests to disrupt education but we are angry that things have got so.''

Childcare NVQ student Nicole Weatherall, 16, said: "I think it's right for them to go on strike - they're good teachers, working loads of hours and they should get paid for it.''

College principal Jean McAllister said: "The college has remained open. A number of classes have been disrupted although some, run by non-union staff, have gone ahead with facilities made available to students whose classes weren't running.''

Bradford College marketing officer Frances Longley said: "It's a national day of action resulting from under-funding of further education so we do have every sympathy with them."

Following this morning's action striking lecturers in Bradford moved on to a rally in Centenary Square.