CAMPAIGNERS fighting against a drastic cut to adult education funding in Somerset have won a significant victory.

Somerset Skills and Learning (SS&L) was forced to postpone a number of classes after their funding was cut, from around £3 million down to just £110,000 last month.

But after hard campaigning by residents, Somerset’s Conservative MPs and the Somerset Labour Party, SS&L is to receive nearly £2.5million - around 75 per cent of its previous total.

Classes due to start this term will now go ahead. A spokesman for Somerset Skills and Learning said: “We’ve been granted transitional funding to start running our community and leisure courses again this year.

"It is not the full amount we bid for but it does allow us to move forward.

"Thanks to everyone for your amazing support during a really tough time for all.”

Labour leader on Somerset County Council, Leigh Redman, said: “Our members were among the first to express concern over the massive cut in funding.

"This U-turn shows how right we are that the south west is being overlooked and that we need fairer funding.”