THE University of Huddersfield has been awarded £1m to spend on new equipment for teaching and research in science and engineering.

The grant, from the Government's Funding Council for Higher Education, will pay for equipment in six specialist areas.

In engineering the equipment will benefit The Centre for Precision Technology, The Surface Metrology Research Group and The Brake Research Team.

In sciences the new equipment will support the work of The Biomolecular Science Research Centre, Biomaterials Research Group and Materials and Catalysis Research.

"We are very pleased that our bids for funding have been successful," said the university's chairman of research, Professor Mike Page.

"There are some really exciting initiatives moving forward at Huddersfield and this funding will benefit our staff, students and researchers alike."

One of the projects being studied at Huddersfield is on brake noise.

Researchers hope to establish how the terrible squealing noises given off in some braking systems can be eliminated.

* The university has also been awarded a Workforce Development Grant from the European Social Fund.

The money is being used to introduce free e-business training to 40 local small businesses and 50 recently unemployed people for 12 months.

The free training for 90 employees from the 40 companies comprises a mix of intensive workshops lasting from one to three days at the university, projects in the workplace and a distance learning materials available on CD and online.

"In addition we will help 50 unemployed people to make a fresh start by teaching them how to create and operate an online store," said Pete Raith of the University Business School.