They may be charged with the important task of educating future generations, but teachers in one local authority district could soon have to pay for the pleasure of driving to work.

Swansea council is considering allowing its schools to introduce car parking charges for its staff.

The charges would increase in line with the employees’ salary level and the cash raised would be kept by the school for spending on facilities.

But teaching unions say the plans would have a detrimental impact on the incomes of teacher and support staff.

They also point out they illustrate the desperate plight of school budgets following years of spending cuts.

Elaine Edwards, the general secretary of UCAC, the union for teachers, head-teachers and lecturers in Wales, said the proposal "smacks of desperation".

"It's totally unacceptable that the council would wish to impose parking charges on a public sector workforce that has seen salaries frozen or capped for the last seven years," she said.

"Teachers carry huge loads of books every day, which makes travelling by public transport impracticable. And we're concerned that the imposition of charges will increase the bureaucratic burden on head teachers who might be expected to collect fees and distribute licences."