SCORES of students are being bailed out by Huddersfield University because of delays in processing their student loans.

The university has given out 115 emergency loans of £300 to students since term started two weeks ago.

The students have not received the cash they applied for from the Student Loans Company.

The loans cover rent and other living costs.

New students had to apply via Kirklees Council for loans by July 2 and returning students had to apply by May 31.

Third year BA English Studies student Luke O'Neill is one person who has not received his loan.

Luke, 22, from Wetherby, applied in April for a student loan totalling £4,100 - £1,300 was for this term.

However, he has received no money and is two weeks behind with rent for the house he shares on Bankfield Road at Longroyd Bridge.

He said: "The rent for my first term is £880. I get my tuition fees paid by the Government, but I don't receive this until I get my student loan confirmation.

"I have spoken to the Student Loans Company twice. On both occasions I was told that my loan request had been received, was being processed and would be returned to me `in due course'. When is due course?"

Luke said bridging loans will not solve the issue.

He said: "This seems to be missing the point. I don't think my landlord wants feeding in dribs and drabs."

The Government-owned Student Loans Company installed a new £30m system in April, which was criticised by councils.

They claimed the system was slow or crashed when they tried to send applications to the Student Loans Company for processing.

Until April, councils had processed applications themselves.

However, Student Loans Company spokesman Ian McLaren- Thompson said the problems were fixed in June and the situation in Huddersfield was not due to computer issues.

He said: "We had a pilot computer system running with six councils and we had to roll it out to 172. There were problems. But there were people waiting for those problems. They are expected with computers.

"These particular cases have nothing to do with computer problems.

"It is to do with the application process.

"There will be different circumstances for different people. But these are things that happen every year," said Mr McLaren-Thompson.

Huddersfield University spokesman Phil Williams said: "There are about 4,000 people eligible for loans and the bulk of the students have got them.

"There are still bridging loans available. Students should go to the finance office for help."