STUDENTS are good for Huddersfield - and that's official.

A new survey claims towns and cities can draw enormous benefits from universities.

And it highlights the economic advantages, which can add up to millions of pounds.

In Huddersfield the student income is estimated at £65m per year.

The report has been prepared by Universities UK, the representative body for university vice-chancellors.

The report, 'Studentification': A Guide To Opportunities, Challenges And Practice, has been welcomed by senior managers at the University of Huddersfield for the parallels that can be drawn with good practice here in the town.

The study highlights the economic, social and cultural benefits brought by a student population.

It also covers measures taken in university cities and towns with dense student populations to alleviate problems that can arise.

University spokesman Phil Williams said: "These are problems that are largely missing in Huddersfield where good town-gown relationships persist.

"The economic benefits of student populations are well known, but there are significant social and cultural benefits too - particularly in sport, through student volunteering projects and the contributions made to the local arts and music scene wherever students live.

"For every 100 university jobs, a further 89 are created in the wider community by a knock-on process.

"In Huddersfield, with 2,000 University staff, that equates to over 1,700 local jobs that depend indirectly on the University.

"We also make an important contribution to local firms and regional health services through research, consultancy and student work- placements, one of the distinguishing features of the University of Huddersfield."

Mr Williams added: "Students also contribute actively to local life.

"Raising money for local charities and participating in volunteering schemes are just two examples. Every year hundreds of students are involved in conservation work, mentoring schemes with local school children and work with old people or people with disabilities.

"In sport, the town's up-and-coming basketball team, Huddersfield Heat, is run by graduates or current students. Over 350 students attend each Huddersfield Giants home fixture too, and numbers are growing. Students are also involved with the Rugby Union club at Lockwood and other sports across the town."

Although Huddersfield has escaped highly-publicised problems in other university towns such as Leeds, Nottingham, Loughborough and Belfast, the University is not complacent.

"We've not had the problems found in the larger cities, said Mr Williams.

"But we can certainly learn from their experience. We have had no need here, for instance, to employ dedicated liaison officers to handle issues in the community as they have in Leeds, Loughborough and Nottingham.

"Through our existing channels in Student Services, and also through the Students' Union, we do have close and positive links with the local community."