Three colleges could join forces to form a federation in response to "unprecedented cuts" to funding, it has been announced.

Redbridge College in Goodmayes is in talks to create a formal partnership with Newham and Tower Hamlets colleges.

A spokeswoman for Redbridge College, while saying it was too early to discuss the process of the merging, said the move was due to “an unprecedented level of financial cuts”.

While the Department for Education has protected funding for pupils aged 5 to 16, adult education funding was cut by 40 per cent since 2010.

Last month, further cuts were announced by the government to slash funding for adult education by 24 per cent for the 2015-16 academic year.

The federation would enable the further education colleges to collaborate on courses, key projects and services.

The three colleges have a combined student body of 29,320 and 1,366 staff.