Teachers at Epping Forest College are hoping for a significant pay rise following a merger.

In August the Borders Lane institution becomes part of New City College (NCC), joining three others in London to be the third largest college group in the country.

While the council's acting chief executive Derek Macnab expressed his concerns about the move last week, two senior teachers have said the staff welcome the merger.

Lee Adams, head of sport, said: "We have been in merger discussions for the past year or so. The NCC has been our preferred partner for the past four or five months.

"Staff have been kept in the loop from the beginning."

As the college's second financial warning notice last month suggests, the primary aim of the merger is to increase the its financial security.

Kerry Green, head of learning support services, added: "The future of the college is less secure without a partner.

"In the sector at the moment you need to be larger than we are in order to say afloat."

Since the NCC was chosen as a preferred partner, students have been consulted and kept abreast via an on-site poster campaign.

Ms Green said: "Students are aware of the merger. We got feedback from the students who wanted more information.

"We printed out millions of posters which are being distributed."

In addition to students, the college's other key stakeholders are teachers.

Rather than being concerned by plans to "manage staff costs down by voluntary means over the near to medium term", Mr Adams said teachers have cause for excitement.

As the college sits in Essex, staff are paid roughly £5,000 less than their inner-city counterparts.

He continued: "All crucial members of staff would be replaced if they leave.

"I would hope staff would be a London wage. Part of the merger will address the financial shortfall for staff."

The main practical change once the merger is complete and term begins in September, Ms Green suggests, will be within the corporate services.

She said: "There is no marketing department here. The exhibition has partly been so busy because of the help we've received from NCC's.

"It will be all the corporate services. The financial teams will work together. We had support with GDPR.

"We just want it to happen now."