ARBITRATION service Acas has been called in to try to bring an end to the strike by caretakers at Huddersfield Technical College, which enters its sixth week today.

The college and union Unison is to meet with the service in a bid to thrash out concerns over pay.

Caretakers at the New North Road and Holmfirth campuses walked out on November 1 after pay talks broke down sparking concerns about conditions for students in the college.

The 19 staff said that their pay at the college had fallen behind that of council caretakers who earned about £40 a week more.

Roger Grigg, assistant Kirklees branch secretary of Unison, said: "The college has made one offer which members overwhelmingly rejected.

"The college has called in Acas and we hope the talks will explore all the issues and we can hopefully come to a negotiated settlement.

"We are always happy to talk."

In a statement, the college principal Chris Sadler said: "We have asked Acas to help us to try to find a positive way forward because we have a responsibility to try to resolve the issue and get our staff back to work.

"In the meantime the college is operating normally.

"The college has no wish to prolong this dispute, hence the request for help from Acas."

Students who claimed they were studying in squalor during the strike - a claim denied by the college - say they have now been "gagged".

In a letter to the Examiner, they said the college was a great place to study but they should be allowed freedom of speech and to study in a clean and safe environment.