HEREFORDSHIRE has expressed an interest in opening a university, Skills Secretary John Denham has announced.

Four places in the West Midlands, Sandwell, Dudley, Shropshire and Herefordshire, have shown early interest in bidding for funds to create new local higher education centres.

Currently the University of Worcester is the only higher education institution in the two counties.

The four were among a list of 27 places published by Mr Denham, who told MPs that it is not too late for others to register for the New University Challenge.

The Challenge was announced by Mr Denham in March, to allow bidders for new university campuses.

Speaking in March, he said: "I want to build on the successes of the last few years which have seen new centres of higher education transforming local economies and the lives of local people.

"We must learn from these success stories and act on the growing evidence that locally based projects play a key role in helping local areas and people realise their potential."

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) was asked to conducted a consultation into the scheme. Since 2003, 17 new universities across the country have opened, or had funding committed to them.

Ministers said they wanted to accelerate the pace of this development, and expect to have 20 more opened or agreed to over the next six years, which could cater for up to 10,000 students in total.