TENS of thousands of teachers, lecturers, and activists are marching on Westminster against public sector pension cuts.

Four unions are on strike today, angry at government reforms which they say will lead to employees working longer for a smaller pension pot.

The march has drawn in people from across the country and is currently heading along the Strand towards a rally outside Parliament.

Dave Dane, a 59-year-old science teacher at the College of Haringey, Enfield, and North East London, travelled in from north Hertfordshire today to join the demonstration.

He said: “I've come to this because there is growing erosion of our pensions.

“There's a myth that civil servants and teachers have gold-lined pensions, but actually it is based on our own contributions and we are being asked to pay more in.

“We are trying to change the government's mind.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, one of three teaching unions taking industrial action today, attacked sections of the national press who denounced union leaders this morning.

She said: “If the national press has to resort to what it thinks is name-calling, clearly they have lost the plot and we have won.

“It's fantastic to see so many people here today, this is a brilliant turnout.”

Alison McDonald, a 37-year-old mother-of-two and teacher in south London, said today's march is just the start of the industrial action unless the government changes its stance.

She said: “The government is stealing our money and our pensions. They are making us pay more and we are getting less at the end.

“I think this is the start of a long road and today is part of that. The government is scared and they are trying to guilt-trip parents, but many teachers are parents too and we have their support.”

Kathryn Conway, 29, an English teacher from Islington, added: “We will do as much as it takes, we need to force the government to listen.”