It is a rite of passage for all university graduates but now a university has warned students not to throw their mortarboards in the air in case they injure themselves.

Anglia Ruskin University told those about to graduate after three years of study they should refrain from the post-finals tradition of flinging hats into the air because it can damage the hats and “cause injury”.

Anglia Ruskin, based in the ancient university town of Cambridge, requests that those preparing for graduation “do not throw the hat up into the air,” in a statement on its website. “This not only causes damage to the hats but it can also cause injury if the corner of the hat hits the graduand or others who may be nearby,” it adds.

The university defended the move and said it was not banning hat-throwing. In a statement it said: “We have advised students to be careful since a student had to be hospitalised after he was struck on the head by a hat several years ago."

The student received stitches but there are no other similar injuries have been recorded.

Frankie Wiffen, president of the Students' Union said: “I understand the university’s concern but I think it’s health and safety gone mad. People get injured putting their hands in vending machines but they don’t ban vending machines." He added: “It’s very hard to monitor and regulate. What can be done if students ignore the rule and start throwing their hats into the air at graduation? It’s tradition. Throwing your hat into the air is part of the student experience.”

Laura Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, told Times Online: “There are more dangerous things in life than worrying about being hit by a flying hat. Students are more likely to be injured getting to the ceremony in cars than they are at the graduation.”

Chay Champness, deputy chief executive of the British Safety Council, said sensible precautions should always be taken to protect people's health and safety. "The key here is sensible safety - rather than silly safety. It is imperative that we encourage sensible and proportionate decision making, not the needless outlawing of age old traditions.”

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