STAFF and students are to join forces to protest against a proposal to close its counselling studies centre.

On Tuesday, Durham University's senior decision-making body will formally decide whether to shut Cesco, the counselling studies faculty, near Claypath in the city.

Students claim officials have repeatedly ignored their requests for meetings to discuss why the counselling programme is to be axed. They say they have not been offered a reason.

As a result, staff and students will stage a protest outside Old Shire Hall, at Old Elvet, Durham, where the fate of the centre will be decided by the university's senate, the most senior decision-making body within the university.

Protestors say the faculty, part of the university's School of Education, appears to be very profitable, making about £10,000 a year.

A university spokesman said that the counselling courses are additional to its core work and they are examining whether it is feasible to continue to use education department resources to provide them.