EX-DIRECTOR general of the BBC Greg Dyke was in Ealing on Monday to officially open the Institute of Media at Ealing and West London college.

A west London boy himself, Mr Dyke gave a speech reminiscing about his acrimonious departure from the BBC, before unveiling a plaque to open the multi-million pound media centre.

Mr Dyke said: " One of the things I love about west London is the diversity we now have. That was one of the things I tried to increase at the BBC. This college is giving people of all backgrounds the skills to work in the media.

"Sometimes media students get a bad name, but that is nonsense.

"The communications revolution means that in the future there will be many opportunities for the right people with the right skills to work in the media."

Derrick Bennett, 18, from Brixton, is studying for a BTEC national diploma at the college, the equivalent of three A-levels. His dream is to become a television presenter. He said: "I'm learning everything here, from animation and video production to media theory and camera work.

"We get trained in all aspects of the media, in front and behind the camera."

Derrick, who has recently been working as a production assistant on MTV drama Dub Plate, said: "Coming here keeps me focussed on where I want to go. It's a great way to network as you are around like-minded people every day."

Derrick, whose mum is a nurse and dad an electrician, will hopefully go on to Westminster University to study film and television production.

The college has state-of-the-art facilities and already has projects with film and animation companies in the pipeline.