Embarrassed university bosses ducked an invitation to take part in a BBC Radio 4 discussion about their ballooning pay packets yesterday.

Today programme presenter John Humphrys revealed on air that at least three university bosses’ bodies refused to discuss the issue with University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Sally Hunt.

He named and shamed Universities UK, the Committee of University Chairs and the University Employers’ Association for running scared.

“Not one of them, I’m afraid, would take part, so they’re not going to offer us any answers,” said Mr Humphrys.

The executives dodged the debate after UCU revealed the average basic salary for vice-chancellors soared last year to £260,000.

Ms Hunt told listeners how uni leaders have been lavished with a 26 per cent pay increase over the past five years while their staff have seen their pay slashed by 12 per cent.

And the UCU leader said later it was “quite astonishing” that not a single boss or representative would defend the situation.

“What we really need to see is far greater transparency, yet nobody will even come out and defend these pay rises,” she said.

“Universities cannot say their vice-chancellors are worth it if they cannot come out and defend them.”

The uni bosses’ pay and expenses scandal was laid bare yesterday by UCU, which obtained figures via freedom of information requests.

But the union is calling for a national register of pay after 24 universities failed to reply, while other institutions redacted crucial information about how pay and expenses were set.