PLANS to create the biggest university in Britain were given the green light following merger talks between the University of Manchester and UMIST.

A proposal to create the "super-university" have been supported by the councils of the two universities and it will be formally created when the necessary funding arrangements are put in place.

A statement issued by the University of Manchester and UMIST -- the University of Manchester and Institute of Science and Technology -- said the new university will come into being in autumn 2004.