A NORTH-East university has plunged into the red with debts of £5.8m.

Sunderland University was one of a number of higher education institutions left with a budget deficit at the end of the financial year 1999-2000.

Figures published by the Association of University Teachers (AUT) showed 44 per cent of universities ended the year in debt - 28 per cent up on the previous year.

Six had deficits of more than £5m, including Sunderland and Edinburgh, which was £11m in the red.

Vice-chancellor Professor Peter Fidler said: "For the first time in the university's history, we had an operating deficit during the last financial year - in common with very many modern and old universities throughout the UK.

"We are confident that the measures we are already taking to reduce the university's cost base will correct this situation so that we can concentrate on our many areas of growth and potential that will underpin our future successes and stability."

The AUT has now called for a debate about the future of higher education funding.

General Secretary David Triesman said: "Many universities are struggling to balance the books, and students and staff are almost always among the first to suffer from cutbacks and savings.

"Universities cannot continue to meet the needs of a growing student population unless there is a real drive to invest money in research and teaching."