hadow Welsh Education Minister Paul Davies joined Pembrokeshire lecturers and students when they protested at the Senedd about cuts to the county's Further Education budget.

The rally, organised by the University and College Union, attracted 400 education professionals and students from across Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government is cutting the Further Education budget for colleges by 1.06% - a cut of more than £3m. Some colleges are being worse hit than others and bosses at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire are seeking to make 89 staff redundant.

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Mr Davies, pictured speaking at the rally, said: "The strength of feeling against these budget cuts was very apparent at the demonstration.

"Reckless budget cuts such as these could have seriously damaging implications for students and lecturers across Pembrokeshire.

"As the economic climate worsens it is madness for the Labour-Plaid Cymru Assembly Government to cut funding for the sector.

"Colleges need this money to help re-train the thousands of workers made redundant in recent months and to develop the skilled workforce of the future.

"As the Shadow Education Minister and the local Assembly Member I will continue to support students and lecturers in Pembrokeshire in their campaign for a fair funding deal from the Assembly Government in Cardiff ."

Mr Davies is also highlighting the fact that no European funding has so far been approved for FE sector-led projects as a result of the four Welsh economic summits.

"The Assembly Government has gone out of its way to tell us how it is doing everything possible to help Welsh businesses and workers survive the recession.

"Yet despite four highly publicised economic summits and countless policy announcements it is incredible that to date not one FE-led project has been approved for European funding.