The first in a series of strikes by university workers has been held across Scotland as a bitter row over pensions rumbles on.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are planning 14 days of action in the coming weeks.

The UCU said more than 145,000 students will be affected by the strikes, with staff from ten institutions taking part.

The dispute centres on proposals put forward by Universities UK for changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

Employers argue the pension scheme is £6bn in deficit, while the union says the proposals would leave a typical lecturer almost £10,000 a year worse off in retirement.

Staff are striking on Thursday and Friday this week and Monday to Wednesday next week.

Further strike action is also planned for Monday March 5 through to Thursday March 8, followed by a five-day walk out commencing on Monday March 12 and ending on Friday March 16.

They are among 64 UK universities to be hit by strikes.

Due to academic timetabling, union members at the universities of Edinburgh and Stirling are not taking part in the action this week, but will participate in all the other strike dates and are also set to walk out on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 March.

UCU Scotland official Mary Senior said: "Nobody wants to take strike action, but staff across Scotland feel they have no choice.

"These hardline proposals would slash staff pensions and are simply uncalled for.

"It is staggering that the universities have refused to engage with the union and a real insult to staff and to students."

Universities UK said it has met UCU over 35 times in the last year to discuss reforms.

A spokesman said: "UUK remains at the negotiating table, but so far UCU has refused to engage on how best to address the funding challenges facing USS.

"It is important now that UCU engages on how best to ensure the long-term sustainability of the scheme.

"University staff will still have a valuable pension scheme, with employer contributions of 18% of salary, double the private sector average. This makes strike action very disappointing."

He added there are scheduled discussions with UCU on key issues with the USS.