THE Economic and Social Research Council, based in swindon, has announced nine new professorial fellowships.

The annual scheme has been created to enable the recipients to concentrate solely on research by providing funding for a PhD student and, by application, an administrative assistant.

Professor Ian Diamond, Chief Executive of the Swindon-based ESRC, explained the main problem that faces many academic staff.

"The best researchers are always under pressure to do more teaching and administration. We have set up this scheme in response to demand to free some of the UK's top social scientists to produce excellent research".

Fellowships last for a maximum of three years.