The Centre for Excellence in Performing Arts at De Montfort University is funded by £4.5m from the Higher Education Funding Council of England.

It will develop teaching approaches to dance, drama and music technology and has appointed a liaison officer to work with local schools and colleges.

Stephen Lowe, who wrote more than 100 episodes of Coronation Street, is officially launching the site.

He said: "They've nailed their colours to the mast - putting the word 'excellence' in, I think everything mobilises behind that.

"And it's a great time for Leicester - they're opening the new theatre for performance art, the culture centre and you have to have youth driving the energy of the city.

"So it will be very exciting indeed, I think."