COLLEGE bosses are making a formal complaint to Education Secretary David Blunkett over a free travel scheme which they claim unfairly excludes their students.

Lancashire County Council has won Government funding to offer college students free travel on buses and trains in a pilot scheme to encourage young people into further education.

But students who live in Blackburn and Darwen, which is covered by its own education authority, are not included in the two-year trial project, a decision which has been branded unfair by Blackburn College's assistant principal, Matthew Grant.

Mr Grant said that the college is now taking its complaint to Education Secretary David Blunkett, Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson. "Blackburn and Darwen pupils have been excluded even though the staying on rates last year were 60.8per cent which was the second lowest in East Lancashire -- the lowest being Burnley at 60.1per cent," he said.

Blackburn College accepts pupils from all over east and west Lancashire and its subsidised travel scheme is paid for out of its own budget.

Mr Grant said the college had been trying to ensure that pupils had equal opportunities, but was now concerned that its intake could drop as pupils attend other colleges.

Under the pilot scheme students from Hyndburn, Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley will be able to take advantage of the initiative when it begins in September if they are attending colleges in one of the five boroughs.

The free travel will be available to all young people whose parents' taxable income is less than £30,000 per year. Those studying elsewhere can also claim the free travel if their course is unavailable in the five boroughs.

In order to qualify for a full grant, students will have to prove they have attended lectures regularly. A bonus payment will also be made to those completing their courses.

Blackburn with Darwen executive board member for education Coun Bill Taylor said: "It is good news for East Lancashire but we are disappointed that Blackburn with Darwen has not been included. We will be writing to David Blunkett to see if this borough can become involved."

A county council spokesman said that the scheme would only include students attending Blackburn College if their course was not available at "any nearer or more suitable college".