STAFF and students from Cardiff and Vale College in Barry staged a short 'gate protest' yesterday against what they say are draconian cuts to the adult education provision in Wales.

These cuts amount to a 50 per cent reduction in funding to adults in Wales next year.

They say the cuts will remove a route out of poverty to thousands of adults trapped in low-skilled, low paid jobs, often on zero hour contracts.

The protesters says there will be an average 6.14 per cent budget cut at Wales' 15 colleges between 2014/15 and 2015/16 but that smaller percentage masks the much more savage cut to courses for those over 19 years of age, which will bear the brunt of savings in favour of other priorities course for 16-19 year-olds.

UCU members were joined by colleagues from the National Union of Students Unison in a protest outside the gates of Cardiff and Vale College on Colcot Road.

The protesters say these proposed cuts would be a devastating blow to colleges and risk decimating further education.

A statement said: "We have real concerns that the Welsh government's plans could be the final nail in the coffin for the types of courses people want to study as a springboard for improving their skills or just to try and get back into work. We urge the Welsh government to pull back from this."

Staff at the college intend to continue their protests by lobbying Assembly Members at the Senedd building next Wednesday.