Redbridge will struggle to provide enough primary school places for a growing population without greater investment, according to the shadow education secretary.

Tristram Hunt made the claim during a visit to Oaks Park High School in Newbury Park, as the borough faces a deficit of 1,890 primary school and 1,650 secondary places over the next four years - the equivalent of eight new schools.

Mr Hunt said: “We have a shortage of school places across London and, without help from the government, places like Redbridge will struggle to meet the demand for school places in the coming years.

"I know that Wes Streeting and the new Labour council are lobbying hard for funding to expand school places to give every child access to a high quality local school."

"That’s why the next Labour government will concentrate funding in places like Redbridge where it’s needed most.”

The previous Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition initiated a programme of school expansions in an attempt to meet demand.

Recently it was announced a fourth reception class will be introduced at Nightingale Primary School in Ashbourne Avenue, South Woodford, in October 2015.

However, many schools are already over-subscribed, with latest figures suggesting that Aldersbrook Primary School in Wanstead has taken on 660 pupils despite having only 620 official places.

Churchfields Primary School in South Woodford has 485 students, but only 392 official spaces.

Labour Cllr Wes Streeting, for Aldborough Ward said: "Instead of wasting money on free schools in areas where they’re not needed, the government should be prioritising areas like Redbridge."

However, Liberal Democrat Ian Bond responded by saying the coalition had invested more than the previous Labour government.

He said: "Of course it is true that Redbridge faces a significant challenge in providing extra school places for its growing population of young people."

"Nevertheless the support that the coalition government has provided to the council's capital programme has been very helpful. The current government has given Redbridge significantly more funding for new school places than Labour did when it was in power."