HUDDERSFIELD University has one of the highest student drop-out rates in Britain, it was revealed today.

The latest figures show 22% of students abandoning their courses.

It compares to 15% at Bradford University and just 8% at Leeds and Manchester universities.

Bosses at Huddersfield University today pledged action to try to reverse the trend.

Spokesman Phil Williams, said: "The latest figures show that Huddersfield has improved its staying-on rate, but we are still slightly below the expected benchmark in some areas.

"Our position is still ahead of many of the post-1992 universities, the former polytechnics.

"Financial difficulties lie behind many of the withdrawals and we are taking steps to redress this and identify problems before they arise.

"Huddersfield recruits many people from backgrounds where there isn't a tradition of going on to university."

Today's figures were published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The drop-out rate at UK universities, already one of the world's lowest, improved.

The figures also showed the proportion of students who come from working class backgrounds has risen only slightly despite increasingly intense political pressure on universities to open their doors to people from all walks of life.

Higher education minister Alan Johnson vowed to continue the Government's drive to "widen participation" in life on campus.

He said: "The biggest problem is not admissions, but getting more talented people from working class backgrounds to apply to our leading universities."