NAIL-BITING students in East Lancashire are still waiting for the A-level results they need to get to university -- five days after they were due to receive them.

At Blackburn College, art and design students have been told they may have to wait until the end of the week before they know if they have made the grade.

And at Nelson and Colne College youngsters hung around the campus for nearly two days awaiting the results which never arrived from examination board EdExcel.

Today, the board said problems clarifying information with schools and colleges had led to delays for dozens of local students.

Examination boards are facing a House of Commons inquiry into delays in sending out A-level results nationwide when Parliament reconvenes next month. The Government's exams watchdog has also promised to investigate complaints about the delays.

Mike Chidley, Director of Curriculum at Nelson and Colne College, said: "We can confirm that students who sat EdExcel A-level examinations in art and design are still waiting for their results.

"Staff here have been in regular contact with the examination board and we have tried to keep the students concerned informed of developments.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't until late on Friday that we were finally told that the results would not be with us until Tuesday at the earliest. As soon as we were given that news, we wrote to all those concerned to let them know of the new date."

He added it was a problem which was now affecting students across the country, many of whom were concerned about university entry.

A spokesperson at Blackburn College said: "Students here have received their A-level results with Art and Design marked 'Q', meaning query.

"We asked EdExcel about it and they are telling us the results are pending. They won't give us a reason.

"A lot of parents are getting in touch with us and we're as upset about it as they are. It's very difficult for those students waiting to see if they've got a university place.

"The examination staff have been trying to get some information but we've been told it will be towards the end of the week before we get the results."

A spokesperson for EdExcel in London said: "We've processed 3.6 million grades this summer, including the new AS-levels and in some cases we had to clarify certain things on modular courses where schools or colleges had an input.

"Some were on holiday until Thursday when the results were due out, but once we have collated all the information we need the results will go out very quickly from this end.

"What we could not do is risk compromising our standards on issuing grades."

A spokeswoman for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said today: "This year, a record number of papers have been marked and the vast majority of results have been delivered on time.

"We will look carefully into cases where the results have been delayed. We will make sure that students' grades are not affected as a result of this delay."

Mr Chidley, at Nelson and Colne College, added: "Fortunately, almost all those affected here have applied for internal progression to our Foundation Studies in Art and Design programme.

"Obviously, we will wait for the results to come in, so it should not affect anybody's future adversely -- although we realise that young people could do without this sort of additional stress at this time."