Thousands of students have been left with a question mark over the future of their studies after a college in Kingsbury announced it might close before its summer term.

Trustees of The Institute - Masons House in Valley Drive, which is more than 100 years old, decided to put the college into liquidation and informed students it would be closing last week.

But two trustees later resigned their positions and students were told they did not have the authority to shut the college without putting it to a vote of The Institute Society members.

A special meeting for Institute Society members is now being organised to vote in new trustees who will then make decisions based on the current financial information, as to whether The Institute can continue to run to the end of the summer term.

In an email to students seen by the Harrow Times, the college managers said: "We cannot predict the outcome but will do everything within our power to make sure that courses run to the end of the summer term."

A notice on the college's website thanked students for their "continued patience and support".

The message ,addressed to all students, says: "Following a decision by the trustees to put The Institute into liquidation, it has been decided that this decision will now be taken by Institute Society members.

"In light of these recent events, a meeting will be held in the next few weeks to decide the future of The Institute and whether to run courses in the summer term.

"If you wish to enrol, please check this website in two weeks time for an update.

"We thank all students for their kind messages and appreciate your continued patience and support."

The college, which has approximately 2,000 students, was founded by a philanthropist who believed in providing cultural and educational opportunities for all in March 1909.

It offers a range of full-time, part-time, day, evening and weekend courses providing adult education, whatever people's age or educational background, across north London.

The Institute did not respond to the Harrow Times request for comment by the time of going to press.