A teaching union official in Devon claims it will be hard to recruit new staff if regional pay plans are implemented by the Government.

During an annual TUC conference in Torquay at the weekend, members voted to join other unions in challenging the proposals.

The Division Secretary for the NUT in Devon says it would discourage people from working in the region and that wages here are already low.

The issue of pension cuts was also raised and plans to escalate campaigns on the changes were backed.

They also plan to challenge the move twoards converting more schools to academies.