The study by the National Association of Head Teachers shows Lincolnshire is near the bottom of the list for primary school funding.

Head teacher spokesman David Hart said the county is spending �200 a head less than it could on pupils.

But education head Cheryle Berry says the county meets government targets.

"We are doing everything we are supposed to do," the Lincolnshire County Council education director said.

Missing millions

The study says national figures show the county should be spending �10m more on primary schools.

Association general secretary David Hart said: "According to the base figures for expenditure for primary school education in the country, every pupil in Lincolnshire should be getting another �200 - it is appalling."

The county can't spend money that it doesn't receive Cheryle Berry, director of education

Labour education spokesman for Lincolnshire, Phil Dilks, said: "We have to take the report very seriously - we need an urgent investigation to find out where that money is going."

"We want to make sure every school gets its fair share of the money.

But Ms Berry said "As a local authority we have met all the government targets."

She said the government is allocating less money to the county per pupil than the national average - so the county "can't spend money that it doesn't receive".

"Lincolnshire received below average funding from national government - we are 19% below the national average per pupil - that is a �68m funding shortfall.