Thousands of teaching support staff are set to take part in a strike ballot this autumn in protest at "paltry" pay offers.

Public sector union Unison will ballot members across Sussex in the new academic year.

Its negotiators have rejected an offer of 2.3 per cent or £400 for staff on salaries up to £10,903 as "entirely inadequate".

The union is demanding a substantial pay increase with a flat rate element, a minimum starting salary of £11,000 for all support staff and a nationally negotiated agreement on a 35-hour working week, annual leave and implementation.

If approved, strikes would be held on November 5 at colleges including South Downs College in Lewes and Eastbourne, Chichester College, Haywards Heath College, Hastings College, Northbrook College in Worthing, Brinsbury College in Pulborough and Plumpton College in Lewes.

The workers will be balloted between October 3 and October 22.

Alex Knutsen, Brighton and Hove Unison branch secretary, said: "The employers' offer is an insult to support staff, the vast majority of whom earn below £12,000.

"This paltry amount is worth an extra 21p per hour for the lowest paid and as little as 13p per hour for those above Point 11 (£10,903).

"Other key employers in the education sector are offering school support staff up to 7.7 per cent (10.9 per cent for the lowest paid) and 3.5 per cent (five per cent for the lowest paid) in universities.

"Our members feel insulted by their employers, and the government, who continually talk about support staff's valuable contributions to our children's education.

"Now is the time to translate those sentiments into a living wage."

Earlier this month, council workers staged a rally outside Brighton Town Hall to gauge opinion on their offer of a 7.7 per cent pay rise over two years.