A FOREIGN Legion of teachers is to be drafted into Blackburn and Darwen's schools in a bid to stave off a teacher shortage crisis.

Just two days after council bosses admitted some pupils may be taught subjects by teachers without the relevent specialist qualifications, it has emerged that education chiefs are to scout around Europe for extra staff.

One teachers' union today claimed Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw should be ashamed that his borough is being forced to 'beg around Europe' for teaching staff and called on him to use his cabinet clout to end the situation.

But Mr Straw said he was proud of Blackburn with Darwen Council and said, as far as he was concerned it was totally acceptable to recruit foregin teachers.

Blackburn is understood to be only the second education authority in the region to recruit from abroad -- Manchester hired a 'handful' of Australian staff last year.

It has refused to reveal how many foreign teachers it is recruiting but it is understood to be a substantial number.

Earlier this week, chief inspector of schools Mike Tomlinson claimed that teacher shortages were at the worst level for 36 years - with around one per cent of all teaching posts vacant and three out of ten teachers quitting before they have completed three years' service.

He claimed lower wages and poor conditions were leading to the exodus.

Following his claims, a spokesman for the Blackburn with Darwen's education department revealed that supply teachers and non-specialist staff would be used to plug gaps.

Today, he said: "We have carried out a pilot project by advertising posts in Northern Ireland. That has been a success and we have teachers coming from there now. "The success there has to led to it being agreed to advertise for teachers around Europe. We have yet to pick which countries but all applicants will have to meet the same high standards as English teachers.

"We feel this is the best way forward for us."

The borough is facing a shortage of Maths teachers. Ironically, and unlike Lancashire County Council, it is not short of Modern Language teachers for subjects such as German, Spainish and French.

Authorties in London and the South of England have been using teachers from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa for more than a year now.

But two disillusioned African teachers have now set up a support group for fellow foreigners who experience problems in this country.

They claim many of Britain's schools are dreadful places to work and have warned others thinking of travelling to Britain to stay away.

Martin Fisher, Lancashire officer for the National Union of Teachers, said: "The fact Blackburn with Darwen Council is having to beg around Europe for staff proves the Government is not being honest when they said the only problems were in the south.

"Jack Straw is a very prominent cabinet member. His colleagues have been very complacent. They have refused to acknowledge a problem until this week, just days before the new term starts.

"Hopefully the fact his authority is using foreign teachers should shame him into using his clout within the cabinet to make sure teachers get a better deal in future.

"However, I think the council is being wise going to Europe instead of elsewhere as I do not think the teachers will have a problem adapting. There are good and bad schools everywhere, be it in Hamburg, Paris or this country."

Lancashire County Council has not revealed what it is doing to plug shortfalls, admitting vacancies fluctuate weekly. It said it 'has plans.'

Mr Straw said: "We live in a single market. It is entirely right that we should look for teachers from elsewhere as qualifications from abroad are recognised here.

"Enough Britons work elsewhere in Europe."

Blackburn's foreign teachers would be the second legion of public sector workers to come from abroad.

Spanish nurses are already employed in the area.