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A university is investigating after video evidence of Nazi style initiation ceremonies at its sports club came to light.

The University of Gloucestershire is trying to trace students filmed marching with plastic bags covering their faces, drinking, while under the instruction of a student dressed as a Nazi guard.

In chain-gang formation the students - who can be seen parading up a residential street with supermarket bags over their heads while drinking - line up and begin vomiting as another student in Nazi uniform barks orders.

Natalie Sutton, 20, a broadcast journalism student at the university who comes from Cheltenham, shot the footage. She used the film as part of her university assignment.

The initiation ceremony took place in Freshers’ week last year - a time notorious across university campuses for extreme tests of endurance and tests of capacity for alcohol for those joining sports teams and other societies.

Miss Sutton told the BBC that during her own initiation ceremony for the women’s hockey team she was forced to put fish in her bra and then eat it.

“We ended up in a dark basement where raw fish was stuffed down our bras and we were told to eat a nausea-inducing mixture of cat food, eggs and breakfast cereal topped with Bovril,” she said.

“After a lot of vomiting, we were taken upstairs to a car park and pelted with flour, washing-up liquid and eggs. People were crying and vomiting.”

The university, which bans student initiation ceremonies on campus, told Times Online they have not yet identified the students involved but they will bring disciplinary action against those responsible, even if they have since graduated.

Paul Drake, director of communications, said: “The university takes the issue of intimidation and bullying extremely seriously.

“Disciplinary action may be brought against those who are found to be leading initiation ceremonies and who continue to perpetuate unacceptable intimidatory and coercive practices, in line with the university’s student charter.

“This particular incident illustrates that we have more to do to eliminate poor student behaviour. It should be remembered however that this represents a small minority.”

In November 2006, first-year Exeter student Gavin Britton died from alcohol poisoning after drinking four vodkas, three pints of cider, a glass of wine and numerous sambucas before downing a pint of spirits as part of an initiation to join Exeter University’s golf club.

The incident led to many universities and unions banning such events on campus.

James Durant, president of Gloucestershire University Students’ Union, said: “The Students’ Union does not support initiation ceremonies and they have been banned on campus for many years.

“We go to great lengths to ensure our sports captains understand that initiation events that include intimidating or bullying behaviour will not be tolerated."

The National Union of Students (NUS) has called for a total ban on initiation ceremonies in UK universities.

Wes Streeting, NUS President, said: "We are totally opposed to student initiations. They put students at serious risk and exclude students who don't want to take part in that binge-drinking culture."

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