THERE are fears that schools across west Wiltshire, heavily in debt and struggling to reduce huge overdrafts, could axe teachers to make the books balance.

George Ward School in Melksham is £76,000 in debt, Kingdown School in Warminster is £53,000 in the red, and St Laurence in Bradford on Avon £30,000 overdrawn.

Angie Barker, chairman of George Ward School governors, was adamant debts would not mean job cuts.

She said: "We have three to four years to get the money back and I am confident we can do that."

"Governors were concerned at the debt but taking stringent measures, looking at everything from stationery to telephone calls."

She said the school had been forced to take on two new teachers after having to accept up to 60 new students in September.

Primary schools are also suffering with Dilton Marsh £27,549 in debt, St Michael's in Melksham £11,157, Seend £9,564 and Sutton Veny £11,062.

School budgets are run by the governors who have to ask permission from Wiltshire County Council, the education authority, to operate in deficit with a budget that exceeds its income.

Schools in debt have to submit a recovery plan. They are not supposed to go more than 15 per cent of the annual budget into debt, and have a maximum of five years to clear the deficit.

Chris Dale, head of planning and resources at the LEA, said: "Expectations in schools have risen and schools are finding it increasingly difficult to keep pace financially.

"We can lend them money to cover their deficits but we are not allowed to write it off.

"The governors can be faced with some very tough decisions, and nobody wants to have to reduce teachers."