A REDDITCH campaigner fighting for fairer education funding said she was 'cautiously optimistic' after the Government announced it had earmarked millions more to be spent on education in Worcestershire.

Local Government minister Nick Raynsford recently told the county its 2004/2005 handout had increased to £15.6 million - £14.3 million will go directly to schools, leaving £1.3 million to be spent on other services such as social care, road maintenance and libraries.

Although the announcement was welcomed by campaigner and parent governor Juliet Brunner, she said there was still a long way to go.

"I'm cautiously optimistic but this cash increase won't solve Worcestershire's education problems.

"We'd have to receive this every year for six years just to become an averagely funded county.

"We've also got a much higher number of secondary school pupils then ever so that's one of the reasons we were given this extra money."

County council cabinet member for resources Adrian Hardman said: "Obviously this is a good settlement for education and should hopefully avert any repeat of the current problems with so many schools in financial difficulties.

"However, this does raise the question of how we pursue the council's other budget proposals such as helping older people live independently at home and further improving road maintenance."

Last month, Mrs Brunner and hundreds of teachers and parents went to Parliament to protest at the lack of funding the county's education system receives.

Currently, 33 per cent of schools in the county are forecasting a deficit budget and a quarter have suggested redundancies if funding does not improve further.