TEENAGERS in Huddersfield are among others across the country to get paid for going to college.

They will now receive an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The weekly allowance for post-GCSE students has attracted more than 280,000 applications across England since its launch.

Payments are being made to all eligible applicants in the coming weeks as schools and colleges enrol them on the system.

The allowance pays £10, £20 or £30 a week to students from families with a household income of less than £30,000 to help them to stay on in further education after GCSEs.

Details of financial support available to young people receiving EMA for the first time can be found on the internet at www. dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp

Any eligible Year 12 student on academic, vocational or re-sit courses who applies for EMA before September 30 will receive payments backdated to the start of their course.

Terry Phillips from the Humberside Learning Skills Council, said: "Many young people have families who cannot financially support them through further education and as a result they often drop out of school and into low paid jobs."

The EMA encouraged young people to consider further education as an option.