NEARLY five thousand packed the Granby Halls last night to dance, whirl, and cavort to the six ground-trembling bands which thundered out beat.

The students, from Leicester University and affiliated colleges, were letting their hair down in traditional style at the Rag Rave, the grand finale to rag week.

And as mini-mini-skirted girls, their trouser-suited friends, and even colourfully dressed lads stomped it out until the early hours of this morning, students union officials were declaring rag week this year to be the best ever, and co-operation between students and public better than ever before.

But the Town Hall came in for a slating from officials. This year, they had been "cold shouldered" by the Corporation, they said.

Said one official: "We all feel cooperation was lacking this year. They just have not been helpful".

Beatle Patron

But on the whole the Rag has been a great success – and by yesterday afternoon it was estimated 3,700 alone would be collected from the draw.

Organised by Miss Angela Day, a first year geography, geology and economics student, together with three of her colleagues, the draw included such notable 'patrons' as John Lennon.

Miss Day said: "He is really a neighbour of mine at home so when I started selling tickets I just went to hi..1 to see if he would buy one. He was very nice indeed and we chatted for a while".

One sour note of this year's rag – the Bursar of Leicester University has written to the president of the Colleges of Art and Technology Students' Union about a flour raid by college students on the university in which damage was said to have been done.