SEFTON council was forced to spend £274,000 to teach just eight pupils after they went over recommended class sizes, it was revealed.

Seven extra teachers had to be hired because places in Sefton primary schools could not be found without breaching government infant class size limits of 30 pupils.

The staff were brought in over the past two academic years at eight schools where infant classes reached an excess of one or two pupils.

The figures, detailed in a council report, were described as “ludicrous misuse of money” by Lib-Dem councillor Simon Shaw.

Cllr Shaw, a school governor of 25 years in Southport, said: “It is bonkers that in these cash-strapped times £274,000 had to found to employ seven teachers so that just eight infant pupils could be taught ‘legally’.

“It is madness but, as things currently stand, it’s legally unavoidable because the 30 limit for infant classes is completely rigid.”

This school year the council is allocating £118,000 for three teachers in three primary schools in Southport, Formby and Crosby where there is one extra pupil. The previous year the council had to budget £156,000 to employ an extra teacher in four primary schools to cope with five extra pupils.