Bradford University bosses have welcomed a cash boost of more than £2 million to open up access to students from poorer backgrounds.

The university, ranked as the most socially inclusive in the country, has received an extra 23 per cent in cash from a national funding body.

The decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has been welcomed by the University's vice-chancellor professor Chris Taylor.

Professor Chris Taylor said: "We are delighted that HEFCE has recognised our efforts in recruiting students that would not traditionally come to university.

"We are at the forefront nationally for recruiting students from low-income families and out-perform the

sector on average by 21 per cent."

There are 97 per cent of students at Bradford University from state schools compared with a national average of 87 per cent.

The university says 49 per cent of its students come from social backgrounds which would not usually access university - compared 28 per cent nationally.

Now it has been given an extra £2.3 million from the HEFCE to continue "widening participation."

But Bradford College's principal Michele Sutton has criticised the way the HEFCE pays more to universities than colleges for their higher education students.

Bradford University has received £39.8 million from the HEFCE, a four per cent increase on last year.

Bradford College, which has the highest number of higher education students of any college in the country has seen its funding fall from £7,563,412 to £7,227.943 for the next academic year

Mrs Sutton said: "HEFCE's grant announcement is disappointing news for the further education sector as a whole. Directly funded FE allocations have risen by only 1.8 per cent against an average for higher education institutions of 4.3 per cent.

"Direct funding gives colleges the best opportunity to develop higher education on their own terms, but in practice some institutions are being driven into indirect funding relationships."

The Telegraph & Argus reported last year that Bradford University had been ranked as the most socially inclusive by the Higher Education Statistic Agency.

No decision has yet been made on how the money will be used.