Students have taken over a building at the University of Kent (UKC) in solidarity with striking staff.

University-goers have been camped out at the Grimond Building, on the Canterbury campus, since Thursday where they have been sleeping on the floor and washing in sinks.

Kent students protest in solidarity with striking lecturers

It comes as members of the Universities and College Union have today begun a five-day strike at UKC, walking out over pay, pensions and "deteriorating working conditions", along with staff from 66 other institutions.

Some students have expressed concerns over numerous strikes that have hit the university in recent months – which have seen them lose up to 12 weeks of teaching and left them fearing for their futures.

But 15 students have decided to show their support for striking lecturers by taking over a university building, where they are now set to spend a fifth night.

Among them is second-year computer science student Samantha Bilkus, who explained: "We don't like the way that staff are being treated and it has long-term implications for students like us who want to go into academia but don't want to have the same problems.

"We have had a lot of support from lecturers providing us food and blankets.

"Most lecturers have now moved their lectures to allow us to not have any problems."

Samantha, 20, says the group have been relying on food brought by staff and students supporting the occupation.

"We live off Pot Noodles mostly and clean ourselves in the sinks," she said.

"We are all exhausted."

The students are planning to leave the Grimond Building on Wednesday, "unless negotiations break down" in which case they plan to stay on.

On Thursday, a University of Kent spokesman said: "A small number of students have staged a sit-in in one of our buildings today in support of national UCU issues.

"Throughout, they have co-operated fully with campus security to ensure a respectful, safe, and peaceful demonstration.

"Whilst we have little control over many of the national issues they are supporting, we continue to have positive discussions with our local UCU branch on matters that we can work together on at Kent."

On top of the five-day staff strike that began today, a separate, local protest has seen some UKC staff take part in a marking and assessment boycott over a review of staff costs in the arts and humanities department, and the school of anthropology and conservation.