A PROTEST was staged outside the University of Bolton in anger at the sackings of two members of staff.

Students, staff and union representatives gathered outside the Chancellor's Building demanding the reinstatement of Damian and Jennifer Markey, who were dismissed last week.

The University College Union (UCU) says the couple were sacked for allegedly leaking information to the press about vice chancellor Prof George Holmes.

The sackings follow news reports the vice chancellor was loaned nearly £1 million to buy a house in Bolton and the cost of staff away days.

Mr Markey is a senior lecturer in visual effects for film and television and his wife is an academic administrator in the health and community studies department

Both deny any involvement in leaking information and the UCU has described the dismissal as "completely unjustified".

A campaign has now been launched calling for the immediate reinstatement of the pair.

Students from the university joined the demonstration.

One said: "We have not been told officially and found out by reading the news reports on the internet.

"It came as such a shock."

Another, who also asked not to be named, added: "Damian is an amazing lecturer, he is so passionate and will always go as far as he can to help people.

"We want him reinstated, it is because of Damian that students have been so successful going on to work on big projects."

The unions say that appeals have been lodged.

Assistant branch secretary of Unison Andrea Egan said: "We are shocked and upset at what has happened.

"The strength of feeling and support was shown at a joint union meeting where we raised £400.

“There is just an overwhelming feeling of shock."

She added: "The two should be reinstated immediately. This fight will gather momentum after the Easter holidays.”

Retired University of Bolton lecture in education, Joe Whittaker said: “It is absolutely dreadful what has happened to our two colleagues.”

A University of Bolton spokesman said: "The protest was highly irregular, called without any ballot and at a time when university local procedures involving an appeal have not yet been completed.

"The attendance was poor with only one actual member of staff present and half a dozen students.

"Clearly it was consistent with a small group of people again attempting to bring the university into disrepute particularly in the media."

The university said it had followed all the correct procedures in dismissing the two members of staff.