HIGHER education colleges across East Lancashire should work closer with each other in the future if they are to improve.

That is the view of Dave Tyas, from Accrington and Rossendale College.

Mr Tyas, the head of higher education at the college, said he hoped the institution would be able to forge closer links with Blackburn College and Nelson and Colne College to improve higher education in the area.

Speaking at the annual awards evening at Accrington and Rossendale College last night, Mr Tyas said: "Co-ordinating higher education in East Lancashire is a priority and it would have a large number of benefits."

At the ceremony the top prize went to mature student Joan Child, from Barrowford, who was crowned the student of the year.

She is studying a health and social care foundation course.

Mr Tyas said the accolade was well deserved.

He said: "Joan is a skilled student and has really taken to higher education.

"She has returned to education after working in residential care and is doing really well on her course."

The ceremony, which took place at Accrington Town Hall, saw just under 100 students collecting their awards. They ranged from diplomas to degrees and post-graduate courses.

The special guest at the ceremony was Lynda Cunningham, the acting North West regional director of the Open University.

Mr Tyas added: "It has been a very successful year at the college in terms of student performance with five people gaining first-class degrees.

"It is good to see people in East Lancashire doing so well.

"Higher education in a college like ours is all about providing for local people.

"What we would like to see now is the graduates going out into the community and directly benefiting the local economy."