SIR: In a story in the BEN (March 20), you suggested that I cheated my way into University by headlining half a story with 'Cheating got me in Uni reveals MP'.

I strongly deny your suggestion!

After failing my 11+ exam, I eventually became so interested in science that I left my secondary school, aged 16, with 7 high grade O level GCEs, including a self-taught Physiology GCE, and proceeded to Southport Technical College, where I studied both night and day for two years. I left with 3 OA Level GCEs, 3 A Level GCEs (all good grades) and Scholarship Level passes in Chemistry and a Mathematics option.

Without a language qualification (some universities then required a pass in Latin!) I found it difficult to find a university which would accept me to study Chemistry. Eventually the newly created University of Hull, formerly a University College of the University of London, awarded me a matriculation certificate, presumably because I had an excellent academic record.

I believe they were reviewing this entry requirement at the time and had either dropped or were about to drop their language requirement. In any case, during my fresher year, I studied German for Scientists and passed an exam in the translation of scientific German into English.

I hardly call that cheating and I strongly object to (a) Your damaging choice of headline; and (b) the fact that your lobby correspondent,. Bill Jacobs, did not, as promised, telephone me to listen to the above explanation before rushing off to publish a story based on half the truth.

Dr Brian Iddon, MP (Bolton SE)

We should like to apologise to Dr Iddon for any embarrassment caused by the article. Dr Iddon told our correspondent that the university had 'bent the rules' to secure his place. There was no suggestion that Dr Iddon was responsible for any wrong doing.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.