It is reassuring to see students knuckling down to serious study at the start of a new academic year. The Press Association reports this week that students from Bath University have beaten the world record for having the greatest number of people dressed as Smurfs in one room. A total of 488 Smurfs signed in at the event, although, unofficially, there were 1,122 Smurfs present, according to the report. The previous record was held by Warwick University students union, which managed to get 451 students dressed as the blue cartoon characters in July this year. Scott Fischer, one of the freshers' week event managers, said: "We thought this would be a fun way for our new students to get to know each other."