UNIVERSITY College Worcester heads are due to meet with the fire service following an incident that left fire crews feeling intimidated by rowdy, drunken students.

Crews were called to the Henwick Grove College in the early hours of Thursday, February 12, after someone had deliberately set off the fire alarm.

They arrived to find students behaving in a "drunken and loutish" manner, according to Worcester station commander, John Das-Gupta.

A student had pulled the fire alarm bell from the wall and fire crews were concerned there was no warning system operating in the accommodation. The student was later arrested but no charges were made as the University decided to deal with the matter internally.

UCW heads defended their students, claiming they had not been intimidating and that they had acted in accordance with regulations when fire crews carried out a mandatory roll call following the incident.

They did, however, instigate a full inquiry into the incident, as well as a formal hearing into the behaviour of the student who ripped the fire alarm off the wall.

Mr Ryan would not comment on the hearing, saying the college did not give details of individual cases.

He did, however, say the relationship with the fire brigade remained "open and good" following the incidents last month which would be discussed at the meetings.

"We have two meetings lined up," said John Ryan, college registrar.

"One is with deputy chief fire officer, Brian Tregunna, on Monday, March 15, and one with station commander John Das-Gupta, on Thursday, March 18.

"We've also had correspondence with chief fire officer David O'Dwyer on the matter and the relationship between the college and the fire brigade remains open and good."

However, a spokesman for the fire service said the talks were not centred solely around the February 12 incident.

"We will also be discussing the number of automatic fire calls we get to University College Worcester," he said.

"Last year we had about 50-60 false calls and we hope these discussions can perhaps better the relationship between us and the college and its students."