AT least 50 jobs are being cut at Crewe's university as the Alsager campus closes.

The posts are in catering, house services, estates planning and maintenance, HR, and technical support. A spokesman for Mancheshter Metropolitan University said: "Clearly, and sadly, a number of these jobs are currently duplicated over two sites and that is unsustainable as two campuses become one at Crewe.

"Services to students and academic courses will not be affected.

"There will be no jobs affected in academic areas such as teaching or research."

The reductions are part of wider cutbacks at the university as the recession hits the public sector.

MMU, which employs around 4,200 staff, says reductions are necessary if the institution is to weather the economic downturn.

Vice-chancellor John Brooks said: "We are taking action now to protect the university from cuts in public expenditure and secure the jobs of the majority for the long term future.

“It is crucial that we provide students with a high-quality experience which is efficiently delivered and fit-for-purpose.

"In the current economic storm we are absolutely committed to pro-actively steering MMU to an even more successful future.

"There will be no reduction in teaching or research staff and the student experience should not be adversely affected.

"But there will be reductions elsewhere – the university has notified its recognised trade unions and the Department of Business Innovation and Skills of its intention to reduce its staffing across a number of support areas by potentially 127 posts.

"We have begun consultations with the unions and are doing everything we can to avoid compulsory redundancies.

"By taking action now on staffing and making efficiency savings in all areas, we hope to avoid a potentially greater number of job losses in the future."

But MMU's Unison branch is launching a campaign to defend the jobs.

A union spokesman said: "We believe that our members are being made to pay for years of mismanagement under MMU’s vice chancellor.

"Unison MMU will not stand for our member’s livelihoods being taken away.

"The proposed job cuts will affect the whole university.

"They will have an adverse impact on students and will severely damage the university’s relationship with the surrounding communities.

"The attacks on education will have a negative impact across the city of Manchester and Cheshire.

"We are asking students and the local community to unite behind the campaign and to oppose the job losses."