STUDENT leaders have called for Scottish universities to be held to account over promises to widen access.

Under new agreements with the Scottish Funding Council, institutions have to increase the number of students from poorer backgrounds.

Gordon Maloney, the new president of NUS Scotland, has called for local student groups to ensure their universities are delivering on the new pledges.

"We've seen the huge success around widening access with legislation passed only weeks ago, with up to 8000 new places for widening access, and new local agreements on between government and universities," he said.

"Our challenge is taking these campaigns locally into our communities and on to our campuses, building the student movement and ensuring the successes we've achieved nationally can be repeated across colleges and universities in Scotland.

"It's only by working locally that we can build the pressure on universities."