BURY MP David Chaytor has been instrumental in securing an "earn while you learn" package for trainee teachers.

For adult students who wish to train for teaching positions in further or higher education at Bolton Institute will now receive financial support from the Department for Education and Employment.

The assistance comes in the form of a training salary of £6,000.

Bolton Institute is one of only a few centres who specialise in teacher training for the post-16 sector of education.

Representatives from these centres have been working together to lobby politicians on the unfairness of a scheme that only helped people who were training to be teachers in schools.

The project is a one-year pilot scheme but early indications are that it will be a great incentive in attracting students into further education teacher training. Mr Chaytor was one of a number of Parliamentarians active in supporting bids for additional funding.

He is a former lecturer and head of continuing education and ex-chairman of the education committee of Calderdale Council.

Since becoming an MP, he has submitted two Private Members Bills on education: the 1998 Schools and Colleges (Funding Formula) and the 1999 Lifelong Learning (Participation and Entitlement).

His all-party subject groups include Further Education, of which he is joint chairman, and Adult Education.

The Bolton Institute pilot scheme applies to adult students, aged over 24, who successfully complete a one-year full time Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Keith Webb of Bolton Institute, said: "We attract around 300 full-time students every year into further education teacher training.

"These salaries are a tremendous investment in the future of the post-school sector."