Moves to create new universities

Three towns in the East have expressed an interest in founding universities.

A list published by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, includes King's Lynn, Thurrock and Basildon.

The government's New University Challenge was announced in March to allow towns and cities to bid for university status.

Ministers want to open 20 new universities in the next six years catering for up to 10,000 students.