Job cuts are likely to be made at the University of Gloucestershire in a bid to save cash.

In March, staff were asked to consider taking voluntary red- undancy as it was revealed £5 million savings were needed – but not enough people have come forward.

Now Vice Chancellor Professor Patricia Broadfoot has told employees a "small number of compulsory redundancies" may be required to reach the level of savings needed.

The news will come as a huge blow to staff who already say they're under an enormous amount of stress due to increased workloads.

The university employs 983 staff, 557 of whom are academics.

Prof Broadfoot's letter states: "For this to be achieved it's essential that we continue with the tight financial discipline we've been pursuing in recent months.

"We're likely to require a small number of compulsory red- undancies if no more offers of voluntary severance are forth- coming. We are continuing to do everything possible to avoid this so there are still opportunities to come forward to request reduced hours or temporary unpaid leave as well as early retirement and voluntary severance.

"£400 million efficient savings are likely to be imposed by the Government on the higher educ- ation sector. We understand that the scale of the Government's financial crisis is likely to translate into a very challenging financial environment for universities over the next few years."

Prof Broadfoot also urged members of the University and College Union (UCU), which is pressing for an eight per cent pay increase, not to pursue industrial action.

She said it was not affordable and would "further prejudice jobs".

The university would not be drawn on how many jobs could go, but Paul Drake, executive director of marketing, development and communications, said: "The university is working through a process that will ultimately reduce costs enabling us to bring the budget more in line with the pay costs of the higher education sector.

"We have yet to finalise the spread of pay reductions across the organisation as this is intrinsically linked with the future development of our academic portfolio.

"It's likely that a small number of compulsory redundancies will unfortunately be required.

"Affected staff will be offered advice and help in exploring options for the future.

"It's reasonable and a very real duty for the vice chancellor to both brief all staff of the impending ballot and to encourage a full participation so that the voice of the academic community is fully heard before industrial action is considered."