Adult learners in Essex will have to pay 10 per cent more for their courses after Government funding for the coming year was cut by £1million.

From September, Essex County Council will receive 10 per cent less from the Government to fund adult education and learning, which will result in course prices going up by the same amount or even being cut.

Southend Adult Community College, which is not regulated by the county council, confirmed the cost of its courses were also likely to go up by about 10 per cent.

Iris Pummell, county council cabinet member for community services, said: "This is nothing short of scandalous. The ones who will suffer will be young adults with families and the elderly.

"The county is receiving a quarter less than it did two years ago and will be forced to raise prices, and possibly cut some courses as a result.

"This will have a major knock-on effect, particularly on the elderly who will no longer be able to afford to study, perhaps leading to a deterioration in their health and mental wellbeing.

"It will also hit younger women who are raising families but want to improve their skills before returning to the workplace. The Government's action is truly deplorable."

Because of previous cutbacks, this year's courses had already been put up 15 per cent.

Southend Adult Community College will not suffering financial cuts, but it will have to offer more courses and do more community employment work for the same funding.

As a result, the college said it would be forced to hike up prices by about 10 per cent to make ends meet.

Headteacher Ali Hadarwi said: "We are doing everything we can to protect provision. We just want to ensure adult learners still have access to courses."

He also said adult learners were only paying about 20 per cent of the actual course cost at the moment because of subsidies.