UNIVERSITY fever has gripped Swindon as the town prepares for the official opening of its own campus.

The former Oakfield School will reopen in January as The University of Bath in Swindon. The first public university 'event' in Swindon has triggered a tremendous response.

More than 400 people have applied for free tickets to the inaugural lecture on Novem-ber 1 by Desmond Morris, the writer, anthropologist and artist. This is the first of four General University Lecture Programmes (GULP) for the university.

Erik Burnett-Godfree, community courses organiser, said: "Since our announcement went out we have been inundated with ticket requests.

"We hope that anyone who is unlucky this time will come to one of the subsequent lectures, which will not be ticketed. We have been delighted with the excitement the lectures are creating."

Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor George Lunt said: "This amazing welcome to our GULP lecture series in Swin-don shows what an appetite there is for cultural events here. We hope this is the start of the benefits the University of Bath in Swindon will bring."

Following the appearance by Mr Morris, the series of lectures will continue on November 8. Author and columnist Maureen Freely will talk on The Parent Trap. Richard Morphet, the former curator of the Tate Gallery will speak on New Art from Old on November 15.

The final lecture in the series will be given on November 22 by Professor Graham Henshaw, from Bath Univers-ity's department of biology and biochemistry. He will be discussing the controversial issue of GM crops.

All lectures start at 5.30pm and last for one hour. Further details can be obtained on 01793 695665 or email address essejb@bath.ac.uk.