COUNCILLORS have agreed to drastic spending cuts in order to cope with a £7.93 million reduction in their budget.

As part of the Government's £6.2 billion cut in public spending, every council in the UK is being forced to cut back.

Cumbria County Council this morning agreed to the cuts at a cabinet meeting.

Children's services will be hit hardest, with a £3.1 million reduction in the area-based grant.

This means that there will have to be funding reductions in the way the council supports schools in areas such as under attainment, attendance, healthy eating, extended services and travelling to school initiatives.

The funding reductions in children's services will also impact on other organisations.

The council's contribution to the Connexions service, which helps 13-19 year olds progress into adult life through support and development, is being reduced by £415,000.

There has also been a £144,000 reduction in the children's fund, which supports third sector grants to 5-13 year olds and aims to address social exclusion among children and their families.

Cllr Stewart Young, Cumbria County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet member responsible for resources, said: "It has been a very difficult task to cut almost £8 million from our budget in the middle of our financial year.

"Most of the cuts are in grants for activities which the Government has decided it no longer wishes to support, and we cannot continue to fund them if the money is removed.

"We are particularly concerned that we are still awaiting decisions from the Government on a further £1.75m in grants for play areas, respite care facilities for disabled children and Children's Centres."