A 51-YEAR-OLD hooked on learning has been forced to hang up his mortar board after 26 consecutive years as a student.

Masud Ahmed, known to his neighbours as "college boy", is now unable to leave his home in Mandela Court, Blackburn, due to arthritis.

So a computer course, which finishes in June, will be the last of about 50 different topics he has studied at Blackburn College since September 1976.

Masud has still got the studying bug, despite his enforced retirement, and is looking at home study courses so he can learn about the internet.

He has passed GCSEs in topics like English, maths, economics, business studies and accountancy, while taking in other night classes in fabric printing, the Persian language, Urdu and politics.

Ward Coun Hussain Akhtar, a close friend since Masud arrived in England in 1976, said young students in Shear Brow, Blackburn, always popped into his home for advice on their studies.

Masud said: "Why do I do it? I study because I believe that if I am a more knowledgable person I can understand myself better and understand God."

Masud was able to devote his whole time to studying when he retired from work due to ill health in 1980 after various employment in manufacturing and factory jobs.

The courses are free of charge for Masud as he is on income support -- he just contributes a nominal registration fee.

He said he studied like a full time job, the vast majority of which was taken up by extra reading on his subjects as his courses were usually only two hours a week.

Matthew Grant, director of learner services at Blackburn college, said: "Masud is an example to all learners of his determination to continually improve himself and of all the thousands of opportunities at the college.

"He is a credit to his family who support him."

His wife, son and daughter have become accustomed to seeing Masud with his head buried in a book.

"My wife says she will bury the books with me," he said, "I started a degree several years ago in English Language from Blackburn College, which was affiliated to Leeds University.

"But after one year the lecturer said 'Masud! You better start with GCSEs!'.

"So I went and did some GCSEs instead -- they're easier! I did a lot of studying in Pakistan before I came here and I think I am just addicted to studying."

His wife Khalida said: "He is always studying at home.

"It is a full-time hobby for him. He always has his head in a book.

"But what can you do when he spends so much time studying?

"We are all very proud of him for all he has achieved."

Coun Akhtar said he met Masud in 1976 while canvassing for votes with Blackburn MP Barbara Castle, who died last week.

He said: "It was clear to us that he was very bright. He talked to us about the history of the Labour party.

"Barbara asked his name, then said to him 'Masud, we need people like you in the party'.

"So Masud joined the party and we stayed friends.

"What he has done proves that anyone of any age in society can do something when they put their minds to it."