Six Bournemouth University bosses who cut jobs and held down pay for workers were lavished with a 30 per cent pay rise last year, lecturers' union UCU revealed yesterday.

Vice-chancellor John Vinney's salary soared from £178,000 in 2012 to £211,000, leaving his overall package at a huge £244,000.

Another five senior managers, already enjoying six-figure salaries, were rewarded with increases and most now earn in excess of £140,000, university accounts show.

They have slashed the number of academics at the south coast institution by 8 per cent since 2008 - despite tuition fees now making up 62 per cent of income.

And the pay increases come as university workers demand an end to a five-year pay freeze which has seen their income cut by 13 per cent in real terms.

UCU said the news was more galling by the fact the same bosses urged "restraint" during recent negotiations over pay.

Local union spokesman John Brissenden said: "These eye-watering pay rises demonstrate the startling hypocrisy of a leadership who clearly believe there is one rule for them and one for everyone else.

"Staff, students and parents will understandably wonder how the university can justify such huge pay rises at a time when staff have been forced to accept pay cuts."

Bournemouth University said its vice-chancellor is paid less than other university leaders and was "paid substantially below the benchmark" for his first two years' service."