THE Bolton schoolgirl who called Tony Blair a liar on national television said today "I'd do it again."

Ashley Gavin, a 15-year-old Thornleigh Salesian College pupil, did not pull any punches when she challenged Mr Blair in a special edition of BBC2's Newsnight.

Ashley, of Tonge Fold, was one of small number of students, parents, teachers and children from across the country to be invited to put their questions to the Prime Minister about plans to introduce university top-up fees of up to £3,000 a year.

Back at school, Ashley said: "I wrote to him about a year ago when I realised that all the new fees would mean I couldn't afford to go away to university like my brother, who is at Birmingham, and would have to go to one near home to save money. I didn't get a reply, just a leaflet explaining the system, so I thought nothing more of it. They must have kept the letter."

Accompanied by her mum, Susan, Ashley spent Monday in London filming for the programme, which went out that night.

"My mum was probably more excited than me because I was quite nervous," she said.

From her front-row seat in the studio, she read out a section of her letter in which she told Mr Blair: "In your manifesto you promised not to touch university fees but you are now proved a liar because you and the Labour Party have gone against your word."

When Mr Blair replied, saying times have changed and that he would not be implementing the increases during this Parliament, Ashley, said that the changes would make her think twice about going to university.

She said today she had found that none of the local universities was rated highly for law or medicine which she wants to study.

"I wanted to ask whether he thought people with degrees from universities with a better reputation for their subject get better jobs, but they went off the subject," she said.

"It was great to speak to him directly and I would definitely do it again. I still believe he has gone back on his word."

Thornleigh assistant headteacher Andrea O'Callaghan said: "We were really surprised about Ashley's TV debut because she's usually so quiet, but I think it's great that she has spoken up about something that concerns her future."