Workington MP Sue Hayman has written to schools minister Nick Gibb over funding cuts faced by the constituency's schools.

Mrs Hayman said more investment was needed in schools to tackle recruitment problems after Workington schools were told to make £1.3 million savings.

Schools across Cumbria are facing a proposed three per cent funding cut to plug an £8m-plus overspend in county council finances.

Mrs Hayman said: "Our local councils are being bled dry by successive budget cuts from the government.

"These cuts have an impact on the day to day lives of people in my constituency.

"Maintaining education funding is absolutely vital – there is no greater investment than investing in our children's future.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that every child in Cumbria gets the best possible start in life.

"I’ve written to the Minister to ensure that the government knows the strength of feeling in Cumbria when it comes to the proper funding of our children's education.

"Our councils' budgets have been squeezed time and time again and we are seeing the disastrous results of this.

"Without the right funding in place, our schools cannot provide adequate support for our children.

"We already have severe teacher recruitment and retention problems in Cumbria.

"Under-resourced schools will not help to attract more teachers, and only serve to demoralise the over-stretched current workforce."