The number of would-be undergraduates in the county is at its lowest since 2002 having dropped 11.2% in just two years.

Kevin Astley, 25, of Tag Lane, Ingol, says rising tuition fees have put him off taking a full-time business course at the University of Central Lancashire.

Figures released by higher education minister Bill Rammell reveal there were 11,950 entrants from Lancashire on undergraduate courses in 2006/07, the latest statistics available, compared to a peak of 13,290 in 2004/05.

Mr Astley, who works in a menswear store, said: "I would do a full-time degree course but tuition fees and not being able to get as many hours work is putting me off.

"I would definitely have gone for a full-time degree course if I could get more support.

"For anyone to get help with tuition fees, it all depends on what their parents are earning. The financial side is keeping me away."

UCLan charges £3,070 per year for all full-time undergraduate courses payable after graduation and when earning more than £15,000 per year.

Lancashire MP Lindsay Hoyle, who asked for the statistics to be revealed in the House of Commons, said: "The figures are not surprising given the increasing rise of tuition and top-up fees putting students off."

But universities across Lancashire argue the Government's figures do not ring true for them.

A spokesman for Preston-based UCLan said: "Although these figures point to a decrease in the overall number of Lancashire students entering higher education, UCLan is bucking this trend.

"In the same time period (2005-2007), the university increased the number of Lancashire-based students attending the university by 5%.

"Applications for September 2008 entry are also looking buoyant and we have again increased our market share both locally and nationally.

"Higher education still represents excellent value for money. At UCLan we have an attractive portfolio of courses, superb facilities and our graduates are among the most employable in the UK."

Dr John Cater, vice chancellor of Ormskirk-based Edge Hill University, said: "The decline in recruitment within the region has not been reflected at Edge Hill University.

"Between 2005-06 and 2006-07, our full-time students increased by 320 (6,480 to 6,800) or 5% and our part-time students increased by 3,130 (10,050 to 13,180) or 31.2%.

"We believe that demand for higher education will remain buoyant for universities such as ourselves, which offer high-quality programmes that are relevant to people's career aspirations."

A spokesman for Lancaster University said: "Lancaster University's applications remain steady. We attract applications from all over the UK."