The letter was also signed by Martin Doel of the Association of Colleges and Russell Hobby of the National Association of Head teachers.

BBC: A-level plans may 'threaten uptake of tough subjects'

"We need very accurate high resolution images over a very wide field for the Dark Energy Survey" says Dr Peter Doel from UCL's Optical Science Laboratory.

BBC: Getting the measure of dark energy

That is why local officials and UNICEF enlisted Rano Karno, an actor best known for his role as Si Doel, a village boy who goes on to receive a university education.

CNN: CHILDREN OF THE CRISIS

"We are very pleased that today's Treasury announcement identifies college provision as one of the few areas where savings are being re-invested, " said Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges.

BBC: University places in spending cut