BOLTON'S young army of undergraduates are being offered practical tips to combat the spectre of spiralling student debt.

Publishers, the Stationery Office, says in the four years since tuition fees were introduced, student debt has doubled. Whereas graduates could walk away from their studies owing less than £1,000 10 years ago, today the figure is closer to £10,000.

The Stationery Office has now produced The Push Guide to Money 2002 which, it claims, makes it easier for new and existing students to cope with the increasing financial demands.

The commonsense advice on offer to students includes: clubbing together with course colleagues to buy and share textbooks; don't shop while you are hungry; and save coupons.

However, to benefit from all the money saving tips, students will have to shell out £7.99 to buy the book which is now available in bookshops.