Nearly half of Manchester's students are unlikely to vote in the general election.

A new study reveals 42 per cent of students – the vast majority first-time voters – say either they won't or are 'highly unlikely' to take part in the crunch poll.

One quarter were unable to identify any differences between the major parties and 21 per cent admitted they had no interest in politics.

And despite securing a place in higher education, 11 per cent said they would not vote because they didn't know how.

A further 11 per cent failed to name Gordon Brown as prime minister while only 58 per cent knew Nick Clegg lead the Liberal Democrat party. Some 13 per cent could not identify David Cameron as the Tory leader.

The news comes amid fears the next election – expected in May – could see a record low turnout.

Only 59 per cent of the electorate went to the polls in 2001, with the figure rising slightly to 61 per cent four years later.

In every election in the previous 75 years, at least 70 per cent of eligible adults cast a vote.

The poll was carried out by onepoll on behalf of Unite, one of Britain's leading providers of student accommodation. A total of 1,566 students were surveyed.