CUTBACKS expected to adult training courses at the Forest's premier college have been described as a "blow" to the community.

Government cuts of £200m to funding of adult student courses will hit next year's settlement and all further education colleges have been told to expect budgets to shrink by 10 to 25 per cent.

Worst hit will be vocational courses in subjects like bricklaying, catering, plumbing and electrics as well as apprenticeships. And it is feared job losses will result.

It is understood that the Royal Forest of Dean College is likely to be among the worst affected with cuts likely to amount to 20 per cent for 2010/2011, possibly impacting on next year's intake.

Royal Forest of Dean College Principal, Janak Patel, said: "It is unclear how these changes will impact on our college but we are working hard to minimise the effect on the students and the communities we represent.

"Adult courses are very important to the college. Our business centre in Mitcheldean has been working closely with Job Centre Plus and has retrained 100 individuals, helping them on their way back into work. We have been working hard as a college to help the local community out of recession and this is a blow to us."

He added: "We are working very hard through the Association of Colleges to persuade the Government not to do this. In a time of high unemployment we should really be spending time on retraining people in time for any economic upturn."

•The funding cutbacks are largely to what's known as 'adult learner responsive' budgets, affecting those over the age of 19 applying for vocational courses and retraining. Apprenticeships may also be affected.