A further 100 jobs are to be axed at the financially troubled K College - just months before it is split up into two new colleges.

The jobs are going as part of the college’s continuing efforts to recover from a multi-million pound deficit.

Managers say the redundancies will save about £2m from its salary bill this year.

A statement from principal Steve Hutchison said: “K College has started a 45-day consultation process with staff and the recognised trade union, UCU, regarding the need to reduce its operating pay costs.

This equates to around 100 full time equivalent posts across the college.

K College seeks to avoid compulsory redundancies as it carries out the restructure.”

The statement added: “It’s regrettable that we have to take this step, but this process is needed to secure the future of further education provision in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Ashford.

"The proposed reductions in staff will ensure the long-term financial solvency of the organisation, ensuring that it can invest in the development and improvement of its provision to students.”

K College’s long-standing financial problems have led to it being broken up.

Last year, it was announced the Dover and Folkestone campuses of K College would be transferred to East Kent College.

The campuses of Ashford, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are to become part of the Hadlow College Group, changing their names to West Kent College and Ashford College in August 2014.

The break up of the college, which has about 14,000 students, came after the government sent in a “hit squad” in 2012 after the news emerged that it had run up a deficit of £16m.