Lecturers at Edinburgh College are taking strike action over claims a colleague was unfairly dismissed.

Picket lines formed outside college campuses from 7.30am, while lecturers will meet students and supporters at the Scottish Parliament at noon.

It comes after a ballot of Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) members came back 76% in favour of industrial action in support of the dismissed lecturer.

The union believes the lecturer was sacked unfairly via a disciplinary process that relies on anonymous complaints.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "The EIS-FELA (Further Education Lecturers' Association) branch in Edinburgh College is taking this action in support of their colleague, following many months of fruitless discussions with college management over this dismissal.

"With no other option left open to us, staff requested an industrial action ballot from the EIS which resulted in a 76% vote in favour of industrial action."

Edinburgh College branch secretary Penny Gower added: "We are hopeful that Edinburgh College will acknowledge the strength of feeling amongst lecturing staff, pull back from the brink, and return this lecturer to the classroom where he belongs."

A spokesman for Edinburgh College said: "The college will be open throughout all the planned days of industrial action and we will be doing everything we can to support our students. Making sure students' learning is affected as little as possible is our most important consideration.

"We're disappointed the union members have decided to take industrial action that will potentially affect students. This is based on an HR matter that was handled appropriately by the college and we stand by the outcome.

"We treat issues involving employees with confidentiality so we can't comment on the individual circumstances. However, the normal course of action for an individual looking to take further action in a case like this is to seek an employment tribunal. We're not sure why they have decided not to do that."