Lord Sainsbury of Turville in the city as the university's chancellor elections take place

HUNDREDS of gowned Cambridge University alumni flocked to elect their new chancellor today as favourite Lord Sainsbury strolled past to keep an eye on proceedings.

Cambridge University students past and present, queue outside the Senate House before casting their vote in the chancellor elections

The university’s proposed chancellor walked along King’s Parade as all those eligible to vote donned their gowns and made their choices at the Senate House in the city centre in one of the most hotly-contested elections in the university’s 800-year history.

A rough exit poll of the departing voters - bearing in mind there is voting tomorrow until 8pm as well - seemed to put Lord Sainsbury at the head of the pack, with actor Brian Blessed, lawyer Michael Mansfield QC, and local shopkeeper Abdul Arain sharing the remainder of the vote.

The winner will take over Prince Philip.

Jules Griffin, a fellow of King’s College, voted for Lord Sainsbury.

“I think it would be good for the university and it would be good for science,” he said,

“I think the arts probably need a large sum of money as well but there is certainly a tension at the moment between the two [arts and science].

“It’s been very exciting.”

Lucy Razzall, a PhD student, voted for Mr Mansfield.

“I think he’s the only one who would stand up against the market forces in education,” she said.

“Abdul Arain is my second choice as a protest vote. Brian Blessed is full of hot air. Mansfield is the only one who principles ring true.”

Others were more cagey about their preference as the national media took their own exit polls at the gates.

Cllr Colin Rosentiel, who represents Market ward, had just come from his councillor surgery.

He said he voted for “the only sensible option” with the “best interests of the organisation at heart”.

Tomorrow will see another day of voting. Votes will be counted in London before the announcement is made on Sunday in the traditional way - the result will be pinned to the Senate House notice board.

Votes must be cast in person and will be counted using the single transferable vote.