LISKEARD school and community college is planning to become part of the new University of Cornwall, which is to be based near Penryn.

Plans for the university, at the Falmouth college of arts, have moved a stage further following the announcement that Objective One money will be available for the first phase.

The head teacher at Liskeard school and community college, Alan Sedgley, said the college is aiming to use the university to such an extent that students will be able to study towards its degrees from Liskeard.

He explained the college's draft development plan covering the next five years says it hopes to make use of the resources of the University of Cornwall and have some of these resources based in Liskeard to benefit staff and sixth-formers.

He said the college not only wants to promote the university, but become part of it. Within two years there will be a larger library and resource centre at the college, which will be seeking to provide opportunities for adults to carry out degrees at Liskeard as well.

The initial Objective One grant for the University is set at £674,000, the entire project estimated to cost £1,194,000.

It is planned that building and work on developing courses will start this August at the identified sited at Tremough, with the first students able to begin studying there by the year 2003.

Other community colleges throughout Cornwall will also be able to become involved in degree courses.