Support swells for 'God Save the Queen'

* Patriotic lecturers at the University of Leeds are standing up for the national anthem after it was dropped from degree ceremonies last summer because of the large number of overseas students to whom it means little.

Keith Elliot, from the department of theology, complained in the university newsletter that "as a result the ceremony is deprived of an appropriate and fitting climax".

Penny Robinson, director of the centre for joint honours' division of arts and social science, said "the absence of the national anthem was regretted by the majority of those present".

But Dominic Watt, a research fellow in linguistics, suggests dropping the "ponderous, dirge-like 'God Save the Queen'" may come as a relief to many.

A university spokeswoman said there was no prospect of the decision being reversed.