Bradford University's boss earns £107,000 a year, more than £20,000 less than his predecessor, a new survey has revealed.

The pay out makes Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Bell the 73rd highest earner out of 168 institutions in Britain. But, he is still the lowest paid vice-chancellor in the region.

Adrian Pearce, the branch secretary of Bradford University's Association of University Lecturers, said it was a salary which would pay the wages of seven junior lecturers.

But he acknowledged Professor Bell had shown a great deal of moderation in his pay demands.

"Colin Bell as vice-chancellor has had the same pay rise this year as all his staff, about 3.5 per cent," said Mr Pearce.

"£107,000 is a lot of money, but it is a lot less than his predecessor, Professor David Johns, who two years ago was earning £128,000.

"However, the under-funding of higher education by the government is a still a matter which has to be resolved. Academics are still some 36 to 40 per cent behind in real terms of where they should be."

Professor Bell is in Saudi Arabia at present on a recruiting drive for students and was unavailable for comment.

The survey revealed that at Bradford University, which has 6,000 students, there were 12 members of staff on more than £50,000 a year and, apart from the vice-chancellor, no-one earned more than £100,000.

Leeds Metropolitan University - a former polytechnic - pays its vice-chancellor £141,000, the seventh highest paid in the country.

At Leeds University, the vice chancellor earned £138,000, the 11th highest wage in the country.

At Huddersfield University, another former polytechnic, the vice-chancellor earned more than £115,000 and at York, his counterpart earned £114,000.

The Telegraph & Argus recently revealed the salary of the former principal of Bradford College, Dr Paul Gallagher, was £101,000.

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