A CHRONIC recruitment crisis in schools across Hampshire has forced one head to ease staff shortages by hiring teachers from Bulgaria.

Head Maggie Capsomidis turned to eastern Europe because she was so fed-up not being able to find British teachers to fill posts.

Now in September youngsters at Testwood Grant Maintained School in Totton will be taught by Bulgarian teachers.

The new recruits will take lessons in maths, information technology and modern languages.

It is the latest twist in the struggle to fill posts in the public sector in Hamsphire - a problem that has already hit the health service and the police force. But Mrs Capsomidis said: "All the teachers from Bulgaria are highly qualified and they all speak English, so there will be no language problem. It is an initiative that has enormous potential.''

The teachers were recruited through a Bulgarian agency after Mrs Capsomidis was so impressed with an application she received for a job from a teacher in Bulgaria. The move has been backed by union bosses.

John Gawthorpe of the NUT said: "The fact that some schools are appointing staff from Bulgaria underlines to the wider public just how serious the recruitment problem is here.''

FULL STORY ON PAGES 8 AND 9 OF TODAY'S DAILY ECHO.