It is up to each college whether to implement the deal, say NATFHE

The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education say the strike is in response to colleges refusing to implement a 3.5% pay offer.

City College in Birmingham, Evesham and Malvern Hills College, Shrewsbury College and Stourbridge College are affected.

A total of eight colleges are taking part in the one day walk-out.

Strike action

The 3.5% offer is the first phase of a two year agreement.

A spokesman from the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) said the government has allocated �1.2bn to colleges over the next three years and they believe the money is there.

"We say it should be affordable in every college," said the spokesman.

"Nearly 90% of colleges have managed to pay the first phase and the 15 we balloted for strike action have not received the money.

"In the lead up to industrial action, seven of the 15 colleges are now not involved as they have agreed to implement the offer, leaving eight who are on strike today."

Bob Hill, Shrewsbury branch chairman of the NATFHE, said lecturers at Shrewsbury College had their pay frozen last year and have only received 1.5% of the agreed pay offer.

"The managers are not prepared to talk to us about pay structure linked to the national agreement and only want to talk if we are willing to renegotiate on pay and conditions.

"Nearly all the staff are out on strike and hardly any students are at college. There will be additional action if we get no response today.