NEW Government legislation means that East Lancashire students will be paying less for Higher Education courses while other institutes triple their fees.

The White Paper: The Future of Education stipulates that prestigious universities will be able to charge up to £3,000 a year for degree courses.

But colleges offering similar courses will be free to drop their prices from 2006 - opening the degree-door to thousands more people.

And the White Paper, brainchild of secretary of sate for Education and Skills Charles Clarke, earmarks colleges like Blackburn to lead the way in his vision of "radical reform."

The Government plans to adopt a 'free market' rationale on university fees.

For the last four years, the Blackburn Centre of Education has been forced to charge in excess of £1,000 a year in fees. The annual fee this year was £1,100.

Blackburn College, which provides 78 per cent of all higher education in East Lancashire, is currently an associate college of the Universities of Lancaster. It also offers degrees from the University of Hull, Huddersfield, Glamorgan and Central Lancashire.

But East Lancashire is the largest area in the country without a university.

Brian Whitehead, dean of higher education at Blackburn College, said: "This will be a huge benefit for us because we will be at the bottom end of any fees scale."

And he said inflation in fees will bolster the trend of students staying local to save on accommodation and living costs.

"What I am saying to people is come and have a look and see what is on offer."

Eighty per cent of students in higher education are means tested and do not have to pay the full amount in fees.

The college, which offers foundation, honours and masters degrees as well as national diplomas to 1,256 full-time students, is also keen to re-invent its image - putting an "outstanding reputation to the fore."

It has undergone stringent inspections by the Quality Assessment Agency, the education watchdog for Higher Education, and is set to undergo further probes in coming months.

Now the Government's White Paper is moving to define the distinction between institutes which focus on research or teaching.

Mr Whitehead added: "Where as other colleges gain status from being centres of excellence for research, we are leaders in our field for outstanding teaching and the White Paper allows for this.

"It will make the divide between the old and new institutions but at the same time make people see you can get a brilliant education without necessarily an excellent reputation in research."

The Government's approach also sets out clear goals on two major issues which have frustrated Higher Education - promoting vocational courses and diversification of students.

And that is where Blackburn College could come into its own.

Blackburn College has set its sights on opening learning centres in Darwen and Audley next year.