UNIVERSITY student Lizzie Longmore has received welcome help with her course costs from Knutsford Town Council.

Lizzie, 19, from Knutsford, is in the second year of a politics degree at Newcastle upon Tyne University, and was chosen by the council to receive its annual Millennium Bursary.

The bursary is worth £530, with Lizzie having impressed the panel with her application for the award.

Lizzie has been a member of the Labour Party for about three years, and is a member of the Tatton branch.

She attended Knutsford Academy before studying A Levels in politics, psychology and English literature at Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College.

“The bursary is greatly appreciated, and will make a big difference to me with my course costs,” said Lizzie.

“I would like to work for or start a charity supporting political refugees, and I want to do something where I could leave a bit of a mark.”

Additional awards of £100 were made by Knutsford Lions to Megan Franklin, who is studying adult nursing at Chester University, and Oliver Turner, who is studying acting at Surrey University.

The Knutsford Town Council Millennium Bursary annual award was set up by Jennifer Holbrook, as Town Mayor, in 2000 to help undergraduates, who have completed their first year at university.

Since its inception Knutsford Lions have been on the interviewing panel and, when appropriate, have made supplementary awards.

The panel was chaired by Knutsford Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Coan, together with Jennifer Holbrook, and Michael Goldman as the Lions' representative.

Mr Goldman said: “This year there were a number of strong candidates, but Elizabeth Longmore was outstanding.

“At the interview Elizabeth's strengths shone out in her determination to make a difference once she had graduated.

“Prizes of £100 were also awarded to two other applicants. Megan Franklin, who spoke sincerely of her desires to help others once she had completed her nursing degree at Chester; and Oliver Turner, who appeared to have theatre in his blood, with his keenness on his studies at the Guilford School of Acting at Surrey University.

"It is always a great pleasure to interview keen young undergraduates and hear about their hopes for the future and how they are going to fulfil them.

“In this uncertain world it's like a breath of fresh air. It is to be hoped that Knutsford Town Council continues with the Millennium Bursary for many years to come.”