A college principal has hit out at the Government's decision to cut vital college funding.

Accrington and Rossendale College principal Stephen Carlisle said that the Government’s decision to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) would make studying ‘much harder’ for many students from Hyndburn.

And he added that Hyndburn students will be hit harder than youngsters in most parts of the UK.

In 2008/09 Accrington and Rossendale College received £842,400 of EMA which was given out to 823 students over the course of the year.

That works out at an average of £1023.57 per student that will be lost after the EMA cuts.

Stephen Carlisle said: "Accrington and Rossendale College is committed to ensuring that the effect of the EMA withdrawal is as limited as possible on our students.

"There is little doubt that youngsters in Hyndburn will be hit harder than most parts of the UK and we will make every effort to ensure that any student who wishes to gain a quality education can get the help and support they need."

Mr Carlisle added that the college would make every effort to continue to help students with the cost of their studies.

He said: "As far as we are aware, we are the only college in the area to offer all students free kit and uniform, worth potentially hundreds of pounds.

"Other initiatives we are considering include free healthy breakfasts, subsidised lunches, discounted travel, cut price books and free starter stationary packs.

"The hard truth is that the end of the EMA means that many students from Hyndburn who want to study will now find it much harder. It is our intention to help as many of them as we can with the funding which is available."

Education Maintenance Allowance was brought in during the last Government to encourage youngsters to go into education who might not have otherwise have been able to do so.

Graham Jones, MP for Hyndburn, spoke out last week against the Government's decision to axe the EMA.

In a debate in Westminster on Wednesday, January 21, Mr Jones spoke about the vital role that EMA played in helping young people across the country go on to further study.

He said: "Nearly 19,000 students in Lancashire rely on the EMA to give families the financial flexibility that allows them to continue to study.

"In areas such as my constituency, the EMA often means the difference between going on to further study and not doing so."