Hundreds of university staff have gone on strike in a row over pensions.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde and St Andrews universities are taking industrial action in protest against proposed changes to their pension schemes.

The union said the changes would reduce pension benefits and increase costs. More than 40 staff were on picket lines outside the University of Glasgow's campus in the city on Thursday.

David Anderson, who is the UCU president at the university, said: "The dispute today is about pensions. It is an attempt to bring the employers back to the table.

"The university want to save money and the changes would mean the removal of final salary pension schemes. This would mean staff would have to pay more and receive considerably less once they've retired."

Mr Anderson said he thought around 1000 staff would be joining the walkout at the university. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt also joined the picket line on University Avenue in Glasgow.

She said: "Today the action affects 132,000 students across Scotland and eight universities and this will be repeated next week and nationally if we can't get the employers to sit down and talk. There will be no teaching, no lectures.

"This is a perfectly resolvable dispute and it is something our members feel very strongly about and the issue will not go away. It's their long-term pay and their right to defend it.

"We have reports of strong support today across Scotland at the universities. What we want is a reasonable negotiation. The changes proposed are not needed and not necessary. They go too far."

The second day of action, if the dispute is not resolved, is planned for next Thursday.

Sarah Jones, a 29-year-old researcher in the school of humanities at the University of Glasgow, added: "I want to make sure that anyone who joins the university in the future gets the same opportunity. I want to protect what we have at the moment.

"One of the key things for me is because we are all on short-term funding, we are on project funding, so there is a potential of a break in contract and I want to make sure that I keep my benefits if I do have a break.

"From what I've seen it could be quite a big cut in your final pension. I'm quite early in my career, I want to make sure I have a decent pension in my retirement."

Several students also joined the picket at the University of Glasgow.

Liam Turbett, who is studying history, said: "We've come out today to show support for our lecturers who are striking to defend their pensions, but obviously it's part of a much wider attack on education which we've seen at Glasgow. Students and staff need to present a united front against staff and course cuts."