A Tory student failed to prompt a Prescott-style punch after hurling eggs at Selby election candidate John Grogan.

Labour man Mr Grogan was hit on the head by an egg thrown by a member of the University of York Conservatives, whose actions were immediately criticised by campaigners for Selby Tory candidate Michael Mitchell.

Mr Grogan said: "I had been on a tour of the university bars and I had had a very warm reception until this happened.

"My game's cricket rather than boxing. I ducked and he smashed the egg off my head. This was egg-streme politics and I think it showed a degree of desperation, but I won't be taking it any further. I can tell Michael Mitchell that when he goes to the university, Labour supporting students won't be throwing anything."

Mr Mitchell's agent said: "This was not done in the name of Michael Mitchell's campaign and it is not an action that we would condone. We put it down to student pranks."

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, May 24, 2001