A GROUP of students who returned to their desks this week are surfing the net in style -- thanks to the opening of a £1.2 million business and ICT centre.

The three-storey centre was officially opened last term at Bolton Sixth Form College's north campus by Bury MP and Education and Skills Minister Ivan Lewis.

The centre has 300 computers connected to the Internet, seven teaching rooms and four Information Technology suites. The site will be used mainly for business studies and information technology, but any student or staff member will be able to use the it. A third of the site's funding came from the Learning and Skills Council, with the college paying for the rest. Student council president Edward Lewis, aged 17, said: "Everyone likes studying here, and it's great for kids who don't have computers at home."

College principal Roy Whittle said: "We're very proud of the fact that 70 per cent of our students come not just from the most disadvantaged wards in Bolton, but from some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country.

"Because so many of the students are disadvantaged, they deserve the best and we're thrilled with the new block."