'Eat air' guru seen as threat to students

Edinburgh University's students' association is downplaying fears that students are in danger from a lecture on campus next month by controversial new-age guru Ellen Greve, who claims people can survive without food or drink through "breatharianism".

Edinburgh's rector, Green Party MSP Robin Harper, has threatened to picket the lecture in the university's chaplaincy centre.

"(Students) are the age group that so many of these odd sects target," he said. "They are at a very impressionable age when they want to try something different. I would be prepared to stand outside and say, 'This woman is extremely dangerous, I would advise you not to go in at all.'" But student president Graeme McAulay said: "This facility has been booked during the university vacation, and I am not aware of any promotion of the event to students. I have received no complaints regarding the booking."