STUDENTS awaiting exam results were warned to brace themselves for A-level chaos this week as university staff took industrial action.

Members of the Association of University Teachers took part in a boycott of student admissions in support of a 10 per cent pay claim this week just as school leavers received their A-level results.

The two days of action could hamper those going through the clearing system to find a place at university but AUT bosses were keen to stress that the action was designed to be noticed by the government. In an open letter to university applicants, Brian Everett of the AUT said: "The message to everyone concerned is don't panic. Our action is not intended to prevent you from progressing with your education, although we know that any delay will be inconvenient and may well be distressing.

"We bitterly regret that after years of underpayment and months of unresolved disputes, we have had to resort to action affecting university applicants."

He added: "We hope a few days of delay will be worthwhile if you get a high quality education with professional staff paid a proper professional rate and employed on decent long-term contracts."

University staff claim their salaries have declined by 36 per cent in comparison to similar jobs in industry and government, and they are unhappy with the use of short and fixed term contracts.

A spokesman for Lancaster University, which was recently placed in the university premier league, said it was difficult to gauge the effect of the AUT action. She said: "We won't be in any worse situation than any other university and we are confident that people will get through to us if they keep ringing."

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