PRESTON College lecturers missed out on a national strike on Tuesday -- due to a delay in the post.

As further education staff up and down the country took to the picket lines for a day of strike action this week -- leaving many colleges closing their doors to students -- lecturers at the St Vincent's Road campus turned up for work as usual after union bosses at the college missed out on the official deadline to get their ballot papers in.

Lecturers union NATFHE, which represents further education lecturers, and UNISON, representing college support staff, organised the protest to demand a 2.3 per cent pay rise.

Nationally, staff at 250 colleges were balloted.

NATHFE branch secretary, Peter Richardson, who works at Preston College and represents 150 tutors said they were all 'disappointed' at not being able to take part in the industrial action.

He said: "In line with the Government's policy we have to give notice to strike but we couldn't because there was a delay in getting the paperwork through the post. If we do strike it will be before November 21."

Following the ballot at the college, results showed that two to one workers were in favour of strike action. Mr Richardson said: "Also 95 per cent were in favour of taking action other than a strike, so that may be the way we go."

College staff want to close the pay gap between lecturers and school staff, who have been awarded a 3.5 per cent pay increase this year.

Staff at Runshaw College, Leyland, and Cardinal Newman College, Preston, are not members of either union and took no action.