Thousands of education workers shut down universities across Britain on Thursday in the first joint strike by academics, support and back-office staff in history.

Classes were cancelled as staff walked out in protest at a pay offer of just 1 per cent following years of financial pain that has seen real-terms wages drop by 13 per cent since 2008.

Students across the country joined the picket lines in solidarity, including at SOAS, Sussex and Sheffield, where students briefly occupied campus buildings in protest.