A university should be taking on more lecturers instead of seeking redundancies, according to a union.

Newcastle University is warning that compulsory redundancies may be needed to achieve the £6m of savings it wants to make as part of a restructuring programme.

The university wants to shed staff across the board, academics included, in a drive to reposition itself as one of the country's top ten institutions.

Officials said that about 129 employees have so far accepted voluntary redundancy, but the figure is still short of its savings target and that compulsory redundancies may be required.

George Reeves, president of the university's branch of the Association of University Teachers, said: "If there is an increase in the number of students, which the Government wants, they should be expanding the staff.

"It will mean that there will be an increased workload for those left.

"We think the university will be hard pressed to repair the damage done to staff morale.

"We think that the vice-chancellor should be out seeking more money for the university rather than seeking internal sacrifices that will fall on the backs of those left."

The university said last week that it was starting formal consultations with campus unions, but hoped compulsory job losses would not be needed.

It said the savings made will be invested in plans to become one of the country's top institutions for research and teaching.