DETAILS of a new allowance for youngsters in Hartlepool planning to stay on at school or college in September are being sent out.

The students will be eligible for an allowance of up to £30 per week during term time, providing their parent's annual gross income is between £13,000 and £20,000.

Hartlepool is one of only 40 areas around the country chosen by the government to pilot the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) from September 2000.

The scheme was tested out last year in 15 local education authorities, and is now being extended because of its success.

Now information packs about the new allowance are being issued by the Local Education Authority to young people currently completing the final year of their secondary education in Hartlepool, to enable the students to find out whether they are eligible.

Jeremy Fitt, Hartlepool Borough Council's director of education said: "Financial circumstances can sometimes prevent young people from furthering their education, and this scheme is designed to help overcome this."

An estimated 400 young people in the town will be eligible to apply.

There will also be a £50 bonus at the end of each term for students with full attendance and a further payment of £50 at the end of the course for academic attainment.

Money awarded through the EMA can be used for any purpose, including books and or transport costs. EMA's will be payable for a maximum of two years.

To be eligible for an EMA, students must sign a learning agreement, which must be authorised by their parents and school or college