LEADING colleges from around the county have been working together to explore the possibility of setting up a University of Somerset.

Plans are currently at an early stage but Bridgwater College has been working in conjunction with both Somerset and Yeovil colleges as well as the Regional Development Agency and Somerset County Council to vie for varying possibilities of establishing a university in the county.

Studies are still to be carried out to see if the plan is feasible, but all involved are hopeful of the proposals being given the green light.

Somerset College principal Rachel Davies, who took over in September, said: "Somerset has a massive untapped wealth of potential students.

"By setting up a University in the county we would be able to exploit that breath of potential students."

She added: "Taunton is the centre of Somerset and I see the county town as a perfect hub for a potential university."

However, Bridgwater College vice-principle Mike Robbins is unsure of the idea of Somerset College as the hub for the University.

He said: "Although proposals are at a very early stage, we are all working together to have a university base on each of our campus'.

"We are not looking for an amalgamation of colleges. For example, this college would have a university centre Bridgwater on its campus, likewise Yeovil and Somerset colleges."

Mike is hoping for a new University building will be built on the Bridgwater College campus if plans go ahead and that the three colleges will work together under one brand.

He added: "The report is due out in May or June but we have our fingers crossed that the study finds our proposals will be worth pursing. We are all very excited about the project.

"Hopefully in a couple of years we will have some scope and the plans will be well underway."