LECTURERS and staff who are to be axed in a shake-up of Blackburn College have been left "deeply disturbed" days before Easter.

According to public service union Unison, members have been shocked by the announcement by college principal Sheena Ewing, that 50 jobs at three sites are to be cut in a bid to save £2million.

The loss of full-time and part-time lecturing jobs, including management posts, will happen when the Trade Union Centre in Preston New Road, the Roman Road Centre and the Harrison Centre are closed as part of a restructuring plan by the college.

Representatives from Unison, lecturers union NATFHE, Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the Association of College Managers were called to meet with management on Friday and are set to continue with discussions on April 19.

A Unison spokesperson, representing more than 200 members, said: "We have been contacted by a number of our members who have been left deeply disturbed and we are not happy.

"The news, just before Easter, that their jobs are under threat is very stressful, and a real personal tragedy. For many they do not have easily transferable skills or might be over 50 and not in a position to retrain."

Eileen Sutcliffe, of the ACM, added: "We are working closely with employers to ensure members are kept informed, have time to study any proposals, consider options, discuss their situation with

union officials, line managers and indeed their families.

"This is a very difficult time for all the college staff, particularly after a very successful Inspection in January, and ACM will be seeking to minimise any compulsory redundancies by supporting redeployment into vacancies and growth areas and voluntary redundancies." Members of staff were sent a letter on Friday afternoon saying the college was facing a "number of financial issues".

It announced redundancies and the sale of the Harrison Centre. A employee who declined to be named said: "I don't think 50 to 60 jobs will create the £2m they say they need." The unions were told that specialists in print and heavy engineering would be worst hit, along with some stand-alone Open College provision, Learn Direct provision and some academic or vocational subjects which had "passed their sell-by date" according to the principal.

The repositioning will depend on voluntary redundancies, retraining and filling vacancies which have recently been held open. But ultimately the move could mean compulsory redundancies.

Mrs Ewing has blamed Government ring-fenced cash for the cuts.

The college currently caters for more than 30,000 students and employs around 13,000 staff for 2,500 courses.