Entry to university is a "postcode lottery" which leaves people from "good areas" six times more likely to get in than those from deprived areas, new research claims.

The likelihood of someone going to university depends on factors such as where a person lives, their household income and whether they go on regular holidays.

Kim Howells, minister for higher education, said: "This is a valuable report which helps highlight how difficult it is to encourage and stimulate young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to take part in higher education."