HYNDBURN'S council leader has denied local teenagers are drop-outs after Accrington and Rossendale College decided to axe all its A-level courses because of lack of demand.

The exams -- in crisis today following claims of a national marking scandal -- are the traditional pathway to university.

Councillor Ian Ormerod said he wants to meet college officials and secondary school heads to discuss the surprise move.

The decision would mean that over-16s who want to start A-level studies would have to travel out of Hyndburn to college. A total of 106 students took A-levels at the college last summer.

Councillor Ormerod said: "I wondered at first if it meant our teenagers lacked ambition, but I think it's more a case of going for vocational courses. It is disappointing, though, that an area the size of Hyndburn can't offer A-levels. We have Surestart in place for the under-5s, and then we're taking the aspiration away at the other end. But it's obviously impossible to run courses if the numbers aren't there."

A-level students would have to travel to Blackburn, Burnley, Haslingden or Bacup to take academic subjects. They would receive free travel as all the venues are more than three miles outside Hyndburn.

Accrington and Rossendale College opened a multi-million pound, state-of-the-art centre for construction and allied trades students in the summer. Courses in other vocational subjects such as catering are also flourishing.

Harry Tallon, college director of quality and marketing, said: "The college has responded to the demands and needs of young people in Hyndburn. This is not a long-term decision and is subject to review.

"There hasn't been the same demand for A-levels in the past few years, yet we have seen a huge surge in demand for vocational courses such as GNVQs and BTEC National Diplomas.

Many of these qualifications are referred to as Advanced Vocational A-levels, which provide the opportunity for students to enter different career pathways or provide an alternative route to Higher Education. We offer 65 different courses so there is plenty for students to choose from. There has been a phenomenal growth in the demand for construction courses, in which the college has the National Award of Centre of Vocational Excellence.

"There has been an increase in demand for many of our advanced level vocational courses examples include; Hospitality and catering, performing arts, hairdressing and beauty therapy and modern apprenticeships."