Top Government minister Margaret Hodge got a Grade A grilling about controversial student fees during a trip to Bradford.

The minister for Lifelong Learning faced 17-year-olds who are wanting to go to university next year - but are frightened by the prospect of running up huge debts.

Joe Manning, of Hanson School, said: "If I want to go to university I face paying back a debt of £10,000.

"I am lucky in that I could borrow from my parents - but for many that would be off-putting.

"It is also wrong that the better the university the higher the prices as this will mean only the people who can afford will get to the top places."

And Anna Lynch, who is also a Hanson student, said it was a problem for parents with more than one child.

"I am one of four, my friend is one of six. Some parents may feel that they cannot shoulder the debt for the younger ones after covering the older ones."

Jenna Cole, of Bingley Grammar School, was worried about students having the pressures of part-time jobs to keep the debts down.

"I still want to go to university but the feeling is if you want a good job you are going to have to pay for it."

Randip Singh, also of Bingley Grammar, said: "Getting a place should be on your ability in your grades and not on your ability to pay."

And Sahand Koocheki, of Hanson, said: "The proposals will create an elitist system and will seriously put a lot of people off. Tony Blair should spend more on universities and less on all the civil servants he has."

However the minister, in Bradford to discuss the proposed merger of the College and the University, insisted that if more people go to university then the cost has to be shared.

She argued that students from lower income families would get grants and bursaries and, in effect, money from well-off students would be directed to help them.

"I would love to say it is all for free and Government will meet the cost. But we can't do that.

"The Tories would cut numbers to cut fees.

"I feel the way we have done it makes it affordable and fair."

She said that the fees are only paid back once a graduate is earning more than £15,000 and said it should be treated like a mortgage to buy a house.

"It should be seen as an investment. Going to university offers fantastic life opportunities."

On the issue of the merger she would only say: "Something will happen."

But she insisted: "What we want is the best for Bradford. I am determined that we really put the learner, the kids of Bradford, at the centre of everything we do.

"We are really committed and are trying to do something for the city. We have got to increase participation in learning."

All the funding issues are to be discussed in a Government White Paper.

Sarah Cartin, welfare officer of the University of Bradford Union, said: "Margaret Hodge needs to understand that this problem won't be solved by making the situation worse.

"Lecturers are under-funded, students are forced into debt and hardship and the Government's actions break election pledge after election pledge."