A COLLEGE principal says he does not expect further job losses despite being granted less money.

The Further Education Funding Council has provisionally allocated £8,119,346 for Accrington and Rossendale College - a 4.3 per cent reduction on the previous year.

Already 34 staff, including 25 lecturers, have been axed as the college tries to make savings of £500,000.

The FEFC awarded a smaller amount this year because the college failed to meet targets.

It did not reach recruitment targets for new students, although the number is increasing.

Principal Mike Austin said: "We clearly hope there will be no redundancies because it is not directly connected with this funding.

"The whole thing is incredibly complex and there is no one reason why targets have not been met, although economic factors and a downturn in the number of mature students has played a part.

"We are a thriving college, but it's a case of the Government wanting more for less."

Last academic year, the college had to dip into reserves to make up a £200,000 shortfall from the FEFC, with a similar shortfall forecast this year.

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