A leading university working with Cumbrian students and businesses has been named "University of the Year" by a leading UK guide.

Lancaster University has also been named best campus university and best university in the north west by The Sunday Times.

It has been the top university in the north west in The Sunday Times Good University Guide for over a decade.

This year Lancaster University has risen three places to finish sixth in the national league table - a top 10 finish for the second consecutive year and its highest ever ranking.

The first part of the newspaper's influential 2018 guide is published today and continues tomorrow and Tuesday.

It makes use of the latest data published in the past two months.

The University of Cumbria was also among the 131 universities featured in the guide.

It has seen its ranking slide from 119th last year to 125th in the new 2018 guide.

Those compiling the guide note that Lancaster University has not opted for expansion on the scale of other leading universities but has been committed to becoming a 'global player' in both teaching and research.

Lancaster University was also awarded gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, the new government-led teaching ratings published in June.

Its criminology course is also ranked top in the UK among the 67 subject tables published in Sunday's guide.

In the latest National Student Survey, used to help compile the guide, Lancaster's University scored 84.3 per cent for student experience and 83.4 per cent for teaching excellence.

National Student Survey scores for the University of Cumbria were 70.6 per cent for student experience and 75.8 for teaching excellence.

Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said Lancaster is "at the top of its game".

"It knows the university it wants to be and as a result makes a distinctive offer to students," he said.

"The modern interpretation of a collegiate structure, coupled with flexible degree programmes and academics committed to teaching as well as research has been recognised in consistently good outcomes in the annual National Student Survey. Students love Lancaster.

He added: "In the 19 years of our University of the Year awards, there has rarely been a more clear-cut winner."

Lancaster University's vice chancellor Professor Mark Smith is proud.

He said: "Our track record of success proves excellence in teaching and research can go hand in hand, one need not detract from the other, in fact, quite the reverse."

A statement from the University of Cumbria says it is "disappointed but not surprised" to see its overall ranking fall.

It welcomed the Princess Royal last Wednesday as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The statement adds: "As a relatively young organisation our 10th anniversary year represents a time of change with a new three-year plan, which will build on our strengths and our significant potential, about to be launched.

"This will see us place a strong emphasis on enhancing our student experience and outcomes, as well as our campuses to ensure they are vibrant and digitally-enabled.

"We are also developing our portfolio to appeal to more learners within Cumbria and beyond as well as ensuring our students get the most from their university experience. Nine out of ten of our graduates go on to find work in a relevant profession."

Two new developments at the university, costing a combined £12.5m, have been officially opened this month.

The university statement continues: "As the guide indicates, this is a period of transition for the university and developments here have been taking place.

"We’re confident that the benefits of these changes will become apparent in the years to come."

Currently, Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria are jointly delivering the £4.1m Cumbria Innovations Platform, a scheme aiming to drive growth in the county's economy.