At Oxford University, the president of the Students Union was alleged to have used her PC to cheat on an exam.

For one question, she allegedly downloaded an essay she had, in true BBC programme Blue Peter-style, prepared earlier.

A spokeswoman for the university said that she had no idea how a student could get online - if she did - during an exam without anybody noticing. "I am not privy to those kind of details. It is really a matter for internal investigation. However, I assure you that everyone at the university knows what a modem looks like," she said.

The proctor's office, which rusticated the student, had no comment. ®