The Environmental Science faculty’s annual trip to the University of Exeter took an unexpected turn when they left Devon with tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage in their wake.

Recently recognised as "world leading and internationally excellent" in the 2008 research assessment exercise, a drunken night out for this group of Southampton environmentalists led one unfortunate student to stumble towards the showers, when all others had collapsed in bed, not to be seen again till morning.

Reports suggest that the student fell asleep during his shower and did not wake till early the next day, an estimated four hours later – with water still running. The shower room had flooded, leaking into Exeter’s University shop situated below, which had recently had a new till system installed.

Overall it is thought that about fifty thousand pounds worth of damage was incurred, due to the shops broken till system and the loss of stock deemed unusable following saturation. The shop itself was closed for the remainder of the trip, and it is unknown when it re-opened for the use of Exeter students.

Further, the field trip also saw drunken students steal road signs and place them outside their lecturer’s room.

Upon their return to Southampton the Head of Environmental Science held a compulsory meeting for all first year students who attended the trip - four of whom failed to attend. These students are now suspended from their course until further notice.

Two students who stole road signs are on University probation until next year, and talks between the University and the Head of Environmental Science will decide in the near future how to deal with the student who fell asleep in the shower. Understandably, relations between Southampton and the University of Exeter are strained, with rumours suggesting that Exeter are unwilling to take Southampton students back in the future.

Speaking with some first year students who attended the trip, the general consensus is that it was simply an unfortunate mistake, and that severe punishment for the student in question would be harsh.

All involved consider it a regrettable incident and it is hoped the saga will not affect field trip opportunities for future students. The particular irony of this story that it happened to an Environmental Science student: an environmentalist who forgot to turn off the tap!