TEACHERS could be hired from Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire to solve Essex’s recruitment crisis.

Essex County Council has launched a “Teach in Essex” drive to fill 148 vacancies in primary and secondary schools.

Schools are having to pa y supply teachers £220 a day to plug gaps .

A county council spokesman said the recruitment drive wa s targeted in areas where ther e wasasurplus of teachers, suc h as Lancashire, Cheshire and Wales .

Essex will also try to attract teachers from neighbouring counties, and has not ruled out recruiting overseas .

The campaign will initiall y run until the end of March , although it is expected there will be further recruitment attempts later in the year .

They will promote the county as an excellent place to teac h and live, but will not offer an y financial incentives to relocate .

A county council spokesman said Essex’s support networks and career development opportunities, along with the county being one of the most diverse in the country, would been seen as draws for recruits .

The council has invested £1million in primary school leadership programmes in the past year and support is available to help teachers with leadership aspirations.

It will also promote the coastline and countryside, vibrant town and city centres, good transport links, two international airports and a fast-growing economy.

There are 148 teaching vacancies being advertised on the Essex Schools Jobs website.

Ray Gooding, the county councillor responsible for education, said: “More than four in five of the county’s schools ar e now rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted and exam results are also continuing to improve.

“Clearly,a good supply o f quality teachers is imperative if that progress is to continue and all pupils are to receive the best possible education.”