A NATIONAL teaching shortage is beginning to take a hold in Warrington but parents need not fear the prospect of a four-day learning week, according to education bosses.

Reports this week claim that a worsening shortage of teachers, mainly focused in London and the south east, could result in some children studying for just four days a week.

Unions are warning that the problem could worsen if there is a flu epidemic, and Warrington's education director, Malcolm Roxburgh, this week admitted that the teacher shortage is being felt in the town.

He commented: "We are feeling the effects of the reduced number of teachers available only in as much as we are getting fewer applicants rather than problems in filling posts, but it is clearly getting tighter than it once was.

"Thankfully Warrington is perceived as a good place to work and is not being hit as hard as some places. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a crisis and it is extremely unlikely that we would ever resort to a four-day week.

"Having said that, it is tighter than it has been for a number of years. For example, getting hold of a supply teacher if a teacher is off sick is harder than it was a number of years ago.

"But even that could be because we have employed more teachers to bring infant class sizes down, which could have reduced the number of teachers available."