GOVERNMENT plans to allow universities to treble fees may deter youngsters from the region from going on to higher education.

The warning came as Tony Blair was preparing to mount a "vigorous defence" of the increase after officials admitted students could soon expect to graduate with debts of £15,000.

The widely-trailed fee increase, from £1,100 to up to £3,000, will not start until 2006 but universities will only be allowed to charge more if they can prove they are making real efforts to recruit more working-class students.

Some Labour MPs are unhappy over the move, despite the Government's decision to restore grants worth up to £1,000 a year, which Education Secretary Charles Clarke said 30 per cent of students would be eligible for.

University of Sunderland vice-chancellor Professor Peter Fidler said: "I remain fundamentally concerned that the proposal on the introduction of variable fees sends the wrong messages to potential students with fewer family resources and may deter them from applying to university.

"This particularly applies in this region, where there is a traditional aversion to accumulating debt."

Durham University vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "Funding should continue to ensure that universities maintain access based on the ability to achieve, rather than the ability to pay.

"There must be measures to give able students from whatever background the opportunities they deserve."

Sir Kenneth said the prospect of immediate debts after graduating will be very daunting to people from poorer backgrounds.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Teesside, Derek Fraser, said: "I do fear that these proposals will act as a disincentive to participation.

National Union of Students Durham branch president Ben Wood said: "At the moment students are liable to a contribution of £1,000 a year.

"Increasing the liability to £3,000 a year does not square with the Government's aim of improving access to higher education for the lower income groups."