MOLLIE Temple is the woman who will lead Bolton Institute into the millennium as it strives for university status.

The BEN can exclusively reveal today that Mrs Temple, aged 57, has been chosen as the Institute's new principal.

The mother-of-two has quit as pro vice-chancellor of Sunderland University to take over from retiring Bolton head, Professor Bob Oxtoby, at the start of next year.

Her appointment comes as the whole of Bolton awaits a decision from Education Secretary David Blunkett on whether the Deane Road base should become a university.

And today, speaking for the first time about her new role, Mrs Temple said she was sure the Institute would be the University of Bolton by the time she started her new job.

She said: "I'm hoping we get the go-ahead as much as everyone else who has backed the bid for university status.

"I think it's only a matter of time before we get it. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later." The former schoolteacher and lecturer, who was a senior manager at Leeds Metropolitan University before heading for Sunderland, said she was "thrilled and honoured" to have been chosen to head the Institute, which is home to 7,000 students.

But she said it was far too early to say whether she would make any major changes.

She added: "I want to build on the success of the Institute and to serve the needs of the town.

"The Institute will continue its important contribution to the economic and cultural life of Bolton by providing learning and knowledge locally, nationally and internationally."

Mr Blunkett is expected to make a decision on university status within days.

A BEN campaign, backed by hundreds of residents, the town's three MPs and celebrities including comic Victoria Wood, has urged the Government to give the Institute the go-ahead.

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