A SENIOR councillor in Durham City is urging the university to shelve plans to ask students who live in college for a £276 rent increase.

Carol Woods, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the city and a member of the city council cabinet, has voiced her concern in a letter to Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman.

The Durham Student Union last week handed in a petition against the proposal, warning that it could drive some students into hardship, put off others from disadvantaged backgrounds .

They said it would damage the university's college system.

Coun Woods says in her letter: "Durham is already an expensive university for students to attend, and the proposed increases - on top of the maximum rate top-up fees - would place an additional burden on our student population, a burden that many may find insurmountable.

"I am concerned that this increase will deter students, especially those from less affluent backgrounds, from considering coming here."

She urged that Sir Kenneth to consider ways of making savings rather than increasing the burden on students.

A spokesperson for Durham University said all views would be considered before a final decision on a rent increase is made early next year.