UP TO 40 staff at Darlington College of Technology face redundancy following the announcement of budget cuts by the Learning and Skills Council.

Courses will also be cut from September, with up to 1,300 places axed, mainly in adult learning.

More than 600 lecturers and support staff yesterday received letters from principal and chief executive, Sarah Farley, warning them of staffing reductions across the board.

Ms Farley said yesterday: "Every effort will be made, working with the trades union representatives, to avoid any compulsory redundancies."

The letter says the chairman and governors are appalled at the position the funding allocation puts the college in, and that they will take action locally and nationally to make their views known.

Ms Farley has already made representations to Richmond MP, William Hague, and was due to meet Darlington MP, Alan Milburn, yesterday.

She said: "They need to be fully aware of the implications at a local level and how, specifically, it affects Darlington College."

Ms Farley said the college was leading the way in delivering the Government's priorities and the adult skills strategy and remained committed to providing high quality learning opportunities for students.

"We have just come through an Ofsted inspection with excellent results, and it is with deep regret that these difficult decisions have to be made."

She said the college had a very positive relationship with trade unions and believed it would be possible to manage any staff reductions on a voluntary basis.

This was echoed by Dick Armstrong, chairman of the college branch of lecturers' union Natfhe.

He said: "After working very hard to develop high standards in further education, as shown in the recent Ofsted report, we actually find it difficult to understand the cavalier attitude of the LSC in cutting the college budget."

He added: "Branch officials will be working very closely with the college management in order to achieve any reductions in staffing by natural wastage and voluntary severance."

Ms Farley stressed the budget cuts would not have an effect on the building of the new £34.5m replacement college at Haughton Road, Darlington.

Building started in January and the new college will be open for business in September 2006.

"However, these funding cuts may affect the range of programmes on offer and will mean that we will have to review the fees charged on some courses," she said.

Ms Farley added that the college had an outstanding track record in robust financial management and that it was ranked at the highest level.

She said: "The action we are having to take is not a result of poor management of college finances, but as a result of external decisions taken to meet Government priorities.