Staff and students at Middlesex University held a candlelit vigil in protest over moves to slash 175 jobs to save cash.

The university, which has unveiled multi-million pound plans to revamp its flagship campus at Trent Park, will cut 33 academic posts and 142 administrative and technical staff, as part of plans to save £10 million.

The posts will go under a voluntary redundancy package to be rolled out in January.

More than 60 staff and students took part in the vigil organised by public services union Unison, outside the university's headquarters based at Trent Park Campus on Tuesday.

Andy Tremayne, branch secretary of the Middlesex University Unison branch, said: "There are concerns beyond a loss of posts, such as what extra work will have to be done by the people left behind and the quality of service offered to students.

"Some of the people who took voluntary redundancy were in effect walking the plank. They could see from the new structure they no longer had a post at the university and could not risk waiting around to work on lesser terms at a later date."

Keith Shilson, president of the Middlesex University Student Union, said many students feared job cuts were just the tip of the iceberg.

He said: "Students are very concerned these redundancies will have a negative impact in services provided for students and are particularly worried about possible course closures.

"There is also concern student facilities will be cut, such as the opening times of the library."

A Middlesex University spokeswoman said: "Savings are necessary for the future well-being of the university. Like most organisations, the university is facing mounting pension costs."

She added: "There have been no decisions taken to close teaching programmes or change library opening hours.

"The university often changes programme areas, both adding and taking away courses.

"The academic board makes these decisions by considering student demand rather than staff supply, as part of a formal process that prioritises our full commitment to the teaching and learning of current studies."