SO you've made the break away from home, you're ready to brave the world for the first time on your own and you have chosen the bonny town of Bolton as your student heartland.

A very wise choice. A wealth of talent has emerged from Bolton over the past decade from the comic genius Peter Kay to the chirpy chappie presenter Mark Radcliffe, from the Mercury award winning Badly Drawn Boy to Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Sara Cox.

Hmmm, it must be something they put in the water. So now you know that Bolton's credentials are intact, what else do you need to know about the big bad world out there? Check out 24:7's top tips for student life and you won't go far wrong.

DO - make new friends. If you embark upon student life with a smile, rather than a grimace, for everyone you meet you will have a happy band of buddies in no time at all.

DON'T - worry if you find yourself hanging round with people you don't actually like. Everyone tends to form odd groups in the first few days but you'll soon find people who share the same interests, sense of humour, planet etc.

DO - join things. As many ex-students realise to their sorrow, being able to boast that you took part in an activity other than drinking ten pints of Guinness and sticking the pint glass on your head is actually quite a bonus to a prospective employer

DON'T - go mad. Away from home the urge to run amok in bars and clubs every night of the week might be hard to resist. Just remember you've got to face your fellow students in the morning.

DO - study. Sounds obvious but its amazing how little you'll be inclined to do with no lecturers breathing down your neck. And you really don't want to leave with nothing but a beer belly to show for your efforts, do you?

DON'T - take it for granted. People will continually tell you that student days are the best days of your life. The terrible thing is they are right. Make the most of it, cos in three years the real world beckons.

USEFUL NUMBERS

Bolton

24 Hour Contraceptive Emergency Advice Line: 01204 390 782

Sexual Health Clinic: 01204 390988

Bolton Institute Student Union Advice Unit: 01204 900 850 Alcohol & Drug Service 01204 382 230

Citizens Advice Bureau: 01204 900 200

The Samaritans: 01204 521 200

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation: 0161 235 8035 Bolton Women's Aid Drop 01204 365 677

Manchester

Nightline: 0161 275 2983/0161 275 2984

Student Counseling Centre: 0161 275 2864

Women's Office: 0161 275 2939

Student Health Centre: 0161 275 2858

St Mary's Centre: 0161 276 6515

Aids Helpline: 0800 567 123

Brook Advisory Centre: 0161 237 3001

Lesbian & Gay Foundation: 0161 235 8000

TRAVEL

IF you want to find your way around Bolton and the surrounding areas, first you will need to get your head around the transport availabilities. Here are some useful numbers and facts to get you moving.

National Rail Enquiries: 0845 7484950

Bolton Ring & Ride: 01204 388 500

First Manchester Ltd: 0161 627 2929

Regional transport info: 0161 228 7811

Night Buses: 8 Manchester to Bolton;17 Manchester to Rochdale; 39 Manchester to Leigh and Little Hulton; 67 Manchester to Cadishead and Peel Green; 135 Manchester to Prestwich and Bury. Night buses cost a standard fare of £2.50 and some run until 3am at weekends. Call 0161 627 2929 for more info

Taxis and private hire: There are black cab ranks throughout the town centre, including in Churchgate, Bradshawgate, Nelson Square and Trinity Street, as well as several private hire firms

Book ideas for freshers

Cooking For Blokes by Duncan Anderson

ISBN 0751532754, £2.99

A chunky tome contains Cooking For Blokes and Flash Cooking For Blokes in one handy volume. So that's fried egg and chocolate cake then.

My Turn To Cook by Miranda Shearer

ISBN ISBN: 0304363235, £9.99

A stylish and witty book which gets you over the pitfalls of home cooking. Ideal if you are intimidated by anything more complex than cheese on toast

More Grub On Less Grant by Cas Clarke

ISBN ISBN: 0747261717, £6.99

Latest version of a student classic, with ideas for quick, easy and tasty food on a budget

Student Survival Guide by Lucy Clarke

ISBN: 1857037669, £5.99

A sussed guide to university life by students who have been there and done that, from health issues to how to make a decent cocktail.

The Good Study Guide by Northedge

ISBN: 0749200448, £9.99

Ah yes, studying. Nearly forgot about that, didn't you? This handy guide will help with concentration, writing, note-taking and preparing for exams. Alas, there's nothing about cocktails in this one.

The How To Study Book by Alan Brown

ISBN: 0859698513 £6.99

More help with hitting the books from how to learn and where to study to effective note taking and coping with the dreaded exams