Many middle-income parents can no longer afford to send their children to university, with one in three saying it was not worth the investment, a new report has suggested.

A survey of over 500 parents with a household income of between £15,000 and £40,000 showed that most believed a university education was less valuable than a decade ago.

Half of those questioned by independent education foundation Edge said degrees no longer offered a head start in life, while almost two out five admitted they had changed their mind about wanting their children to go on to further education.

Lord Baker, chairman of Edge said: "For too long, middle income parents have been blinkered to the alternative education options to university for their child.

"The vocational route provides something incredibly valuable to a young person because it equips them with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace."

The study was published as part of Edge's campaign to improve the status of vocational education, including a VQ Day on June 22.