BRITAIN'S biggest teachers' union said today it would consider more industrial action in protest at Government pay "cuts".

The National Union of Teachers said it could ballot members again in the autumn for further action.

A one-day national strike by the union last month shut up to 5,000 schools in England and Wales, affecting about 2.9 million pupils.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls has confirmed that teachers would receive a rise of 2.45% this year, with 2.3% for both 2009 and 2010.

He has insisted that the offer is "fair and affordable".

After a meeting of the union's executive today, acting NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "The NUT will be discussing with its divisional secretaries the next step in our pay campaign.

"An option for an autumn ballot will be given consideration, along with lobbying both locally and nationally.

"A 2.45% pay award when inflation is running at over 4% is a pay cut in anybody's money."

Gordon Brown is facing anger over pay from workers across the public sector.

The Public and Commercial Services Union has decided to ballot 280,000 civil servants for industrial action in protest over pay.