THE hugely popular Winton Carnival has received a £2,000 cash boost, thanks to fines levied on noisy students.

As part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour and noise issues caused by students, Bournemouth University has been fining students and more recently issuing community work orders.

And now the university has decided to donate £2,000 raised from the fines to next year's Winton Carnival.

The gesture has been praised by Winton East councillor Pat Oakley, who stressed the vast majority of the 2,500 students living in privately rented homes in Winton were an asset to the local community.

He said both Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth worked closely with councillors and officers and helped fund many community initiatives, including extra street cleaning, extra police officers and the 16 student community wardens.

But he warned the forthcoming year would see an even more robust approach to all antisocial behaviour, not just that caused by students.

"September is a very difficult time for the community when noise issues are at their highest," he said. "This year council officer Matt King and his team will be putting in extra cover to match this challenge as students adjust to their new independence and their responsibility to be considerate neighbours."

He said persistent offenders could be served with a Noise Abatement Notice, which in the majority of cases resolves the issue.

He challenged residents to knock on the door of their student neighbours and introduce themselves, to try and prevent future problems, and said anyone who did experience issues should report them on 01202 451296 during office hours or 0800 028 1870 out of hours.

Ian Jones, head of regional community partnerships at Bournemouth University, said: "Bournemouth University students make a great contribution in volunteering and in many other ways during their time in Bournemouth.

"We work closely with local councillors and the local community and have in place a system of student wardens which is working effectively. We do take a firm line with the small number of individuals who cross the line of acceptable behaviour and we are pleased that on the rare occasions this happens that a local community event like the Winton Carnival can benefit in a small way."