MORE than 3,000 teenagers living in Bolton are being paid to stay on in education.

A total of 3,117, aged between 16 and 18, are receiving up to £30 a week in education maintenance allowance (EMA).

The money is paid to those over the age of 16 studying for a range of vocational and academic courses.

Designed to boost the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds staying on in school after taking their GSCEs, the payments are made to children in families with an income under £30,810. Students receive £10, £20 or £30, depending upon circumstances.

Those wanting to go back to education and take advantage of the scheme do not have to wait until September. Those enrolling on courses this month will qualify for the payment.

Trevor Fellowes, director of Learner Support at the Learning Skills Council which operates the scheme, said: "Money is one of the main reasons why young people drop out of education and training."

Nationally 450,000 people in England are receiving EMA with the highest uptake, 75,197, in the North-west.

Skills Minister Phil Hope said: "Thanks to EMA many more young people are benefiting from staying on in learning and finding ways into good careers."

EMA is available to young people at college, school sixth form centres, and some work-based learning providers for a variety of retake, academic and vocational courses, including Learning Skills Council-funded Entry to Employment and Programme-led Apprenticeships.

Young people can apply direct for EMA by logging onto www.direct.gov.uk/ema or by calling 0808 10 16219 or by picking up an application form from their school or college, or the Connexions centre.