CARE leavers looking to become graduates will receive less financial help after the introduction of hefty course fees by universities.

County council bosses said that supporting young people leaving care through higher education has become uneconomical as levies on learning average around £6,000 per year.

Until now the authority, as well as providing a one-off bursary and vacation accommodation, has also paid for course fees and for term-time digs.

This could result in financial support of nearly £28,000 over a three-year course.

But now county councillor Matthew Tomlinson, the cabinet member for children and young people, has approved a plan to replace most of this with a one-off post-graduation £3,500 bursary.

County officials believe the move will act as an incentive to ensure young people complete their studies and save taxpayers around £166,000 per year.

Holiday accommodation costs would still be met reducing the overall bill per student to around £12,800 over three years.