CAMPAIGNERS for fair funding in schools have given a cautious welcome to Worcestershire's increased education grant.

The Government announced on Wednesday that the county would be given an extra £14.3m to spend on schools, an increase of 6.4 per cent on last year's hand-out.

The size of the grant, just 0.1 per cent below the highest possible increase for education, was welcomed by parents and governors who travelled to Westminster last month to put their case to ministers.

"In terms of a school report I would say to Charles Clarke 'could do better'," said campaigner Jonathan Pearsall.

"I give it a cautious welcome because what we've got is only what the county deserves and the only reason we've got that at all is because the numbers of secondary school pupils has gone up - there's nothing extra.

"From my perspective I would say thank you very much but we need at lest another six years of settlements like this to get anywhere near where Worcestershire should be".