DURHAM University staff have reacted with scepticism at reassurances that no jobs will be lost if their counselling faculty closes.

Staff and students at the Centre for Studies in Counselling (Cesco) are preparing for a demonstration next week in protest at its threatened closure.

They say the centre appears to be profitable and has no difficulty in attracting students. But they say requests for meetings with officials to discuss why the department is being considered for closure have not been met.

Tuesday's demonstration outside Old Shire Hall is designed to coincide with a meeting of Durham University's senate, its senior decision-making body.

The senate will consider a plan drawn up by the education department's Board of Studies and the Graduate School Committee, which proposes to stop offering separate counselling qualifications and instead allow students on education courses the chance to study counselling modules.

Cesco is part of the School of Education and provides certificate, diploma and MA courses. Officials say they are looking at concentrating their resources on education and teacher training instead.

Durham University told The Northern Echo originally that full-time tutors would be absorbed into the education department, but part-time staff looked likely to lose their jobs.

But on Thursday it announced there would be no job losses among the university's academic or support staff.

A spokesman said: "The University of Durham is preparing to sharpen its focus on mainstream professional education courses by phasing out postgraduate programmes in counselling studies.

"The 200 students already on the courses will not be affected and there will be no job losses among the university's academic or support staff."