STUDENTS at a training centre praised Prime Minister Tony Blair for his government's efforts to widen education -- and then warned him not to forget about universities.

The comments came as Mr Blair visited Northern Technologies in Nelson, where he chatted to students and apprentices.

The Prime Minister was visiting East Lancashire ahead of next week's local elections.

Mr Blair spoke to modern apprentices in engineering at Northern Technologies as well as Learn Direct students, being tutored in how to use the internet.

Learn Direct is a national government scheme to help people who would not normally have access to education.

One student, Anne Sanders, a higher clerical officer who works at Roman Road Health Centre in Blackburn, said the Learn Direct scheme was a good way to help learning but warned Mr Blair not to neglect other areas.

She said: "This is a brilliant scheme which means that people who would not normally be able to learn new skills get the opportunity to do so.

"It was nice to see Mr Blair taking an interest and I know he pushes education quite hard but I do think he needs to look at university education because it is in danger of becoming a two-tier system again with many poorer people put off higher education because of the cost." Mr Blair was also given a tour of an engineering workshop and chatted to apprentices studying for engineering diplomas.

One of the trainees, Wayne Jenkinson, 16, from Accrington, said: "It's good too see him taking an interest in what we are doing and nice to know the Government is thinking about manufacturing."

The Prime Minister said manufacturing was important for the future of the country and said it needed large investment from governments.

He added: "Manufacturing certainly should not be a dying industry as it is part of the future of this country. But it does require large investment through schemes like the modern apprenticeships we have seen here."