Teachers around the region are threatening strike action

The first wave of teacher redundancies in Devon are expected to take effect within the next month.

The threat of compulsory redundancy and job cuts hangs over hundreds of teaching staff - particularly in Plymouth and Torbay.

Up to 100 teaching and 200 classroom assistant posts could be axed in Plymouth because of a �2m shortfall in city council funding.

The National Union of Teachers is considering strike action over the issue later in the summer.

In Torbay, 31 primary schools will be shedding posts.

Difficult choices

Among them is Sherwell Valley school, where six learning support assistants have been told their posts are being terminated.

Have your say on school cuts

Elsewhere, consultations over redundancies are still taking place, but letters have to be served by the end of May.

Deputy head Jeremy Kingston said they were having to make some difficult choices.

He said: "It is very difficult to know who to blame.

"It's a two-pronged problem. The central government has relocated funding from southern authorities to try and even out the disparity, which has had an effect.

"But also the council here in Torbay has kept the increase in the council tax down to a minimum, so obviously there is less money to be put into services such as education."

Torbay council says the government is to blame.

It had already pumped in 75% more money than the government recommended.

The government says it has increased the education budget year on year.