NINE students are celebrating picking up £1,500 each to help pay for their studies, thanks to a cash injection from West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT).

They are the first to benefit from the trust's bursary scheme, to be awarded out of a £150,000 fund the WMNT has set up to help young students.

The courses can be in any subject, from ballet to building, and the first round of bursaries have been for courses in contemporary dance, performance and events production, construction, animal management, law, youth studies and information technology.

Trust chairman Joan Ford said: "We have been overwhelmed by the success of the scheme, with nine applications already approved and more being processed.

"We know that, currently, a low number of local residents apply for university places, often simply due to the worry of finances.

"We hope we are taking away some of that burden to really open up higher education for our young people."

Up to 15 bursaries a year are available for the next two years.

Anne Shaw, WMNT children and learning manager, said: "In return for the bursary, students will be asked to take part in community activities with young people in their own neighbourhoods and act as role models to encourage others to succeed through educational achievement."

Student Andrew Vickers, 18, from West Lane, has been awarded a bursary to study a BSc honours degree in youth studies.

He said: "I'm hoping it will help me stay debt-free. I'd like to use the skills I'll learn on my course to give something back to my local community."

The bursary scheme is being administered by Middlesbrough Council, which runs a town-wide scheme of its own.

There is still time to apply for a bursary for the coming year, by calling (01642) 230555.