STUDENT protesters are planning an open-day demonstration at Bournemouth University.

The students' union passed a vote calling for action on November 17 over plans to make up to 50 lecturers redundant.

It also passed a vote of no confidence in vice chancellor Paul Curran.

It said it had 58 requests from students for a meeting on the cuts and 120 members took part in the debate.

Angela Smith, 22, a student union communications officer, said students were doing it to make the university listen to their fears over losing lecturers.

"The main thing they are worried about is reducing contact time," she said.

She admitted "there is a worry" a demonstration could damage the university by putting students off coming to Bournemouth.

"But hopefully the threat of doing this will make the university listen to us," she said.

A spokesman for the university said: "Naturally we are disappointed that a meeting of the students' union has voted in this way.

"The university's strategic plan, which was approved by the university board in September, describes our investment of £50 million over the next five years.

"To facilitate the changes, we have also had to consider areas from which to disinvest.

"Unfortunately, this has led recently to an unsettling period of consultation on the possibility of some academic posts being made redundant.

"We understand their particular concern that the changes could lead to reduced time for their education.

"This will not occur."