Students are demanding the uncut version of a videotape of their graduation ceremony after a student flashed on stage - but university chiefs have banned it.

The unknown male student caused a storm when he calmly walked on to the stage at the Dome in Brighton to shake hands with University of Sussex chancellor Lord Richard Attenborough and then flashed his tackle at the audience.

A huge roar of approval for his impromptu performance went up from the audience before he flipped his gown shut and walked off stage.

But the university did not see the funny side and vice-chancellor Alastair Smith has ordered the offending footage to be cut from the commemorative videos because he fears it will set a precedent for future ceremonies.

A university spokesman said: "Graduation is a real celebration and the atmosphere at the Dome is always fantastic.

"In this particular case, however, we feel the student went too far and the university does not encourage such behaviour."

Derek Latimer, of mid-Wales-based Cam-3 Video Productions who filmed the graduations, said the firm had been told by the university to edit out the footage of the flasher.

Mr Latimer said people were asking whether the scene had been included and while some were disappointed it had not, others were glad it had been deleted.

He said: "We have had all sorts of student-type antics in the past but this is a first for us."