STUDENTS at York University will probably blame the night's beer when they see an elephant standing outside their halls of residence today.

But the students are not seeing things. Instead, the elephant is a protest against what protesters say is the withdrawal of 24-hour security cover at Vanbrugh College.

This, they say, leaves the college's 130 residents "vulnerable".

Elephants, says the university's Students' Union, are an endangered species - like the 24-hour security porters.

So an elephant is due to stand outside Vanbrugh every night this week.

But the university insists 24-hour security remains and student security "is, and always has been, of paramount importance".

"The university would never take any decision that could place students at risk," said spokeswoman Hilary Layton.

Updated: 14:51 Wednesday, November 14, 2001