Huddersfield University bosses shrugged off a one-day strike by lecturers and support staff.

Yesterday’s strike was designed to coincide with the university’s open day, which attracted more than 1,300 potential students from all over the country.

A spokesman for the university said: “There has been very little disruption. Our open day went extremely well and the previous one held the day before, on Wednesday, also attracted a similar number of students.

“We were aware of what was happening; we knew it was coming and made provision for it. There were substitute tutors helping out.

“We had 1,300 would-be students on both days which is 30% up on last year, which is a very pleasing statistic.”

Huddersfield was not the only university affected across the region.

Steve Torrance, Yorkshire and Humber regional organiser for Unison, said it had been a historic day for the unions in that “cleaners, secretaries and those up to lecturers” had taken part for the first time in joint action.

He said the employers had offered only a 1% pay rise when the unions thought a settlement of about 3% was required.

Mr Torrance said: “The universities across the country are sitting on a £1bn surplus but although they are cash-rich they are morally bankrupt.

“Universities have seen their income grow year on year.

“There were up to 50 pickets at Huddersfield and appropriately enough, given that it was Halloween, there was a ghostly atmosphere at some of the campuses across Yorkshire, particularly Leeds, though it has been solid at York, Sheffield and Hull.

“Many of the staff simply stayed away – certainly most of our staff stayed away for the day.”