A female-only Cambridge college has threatened to expel undergraduates after staff discovered gatecrashers at a three-course black tie dinner

Newnham College, which counts Mary Beard and Emma Thompson among its alumni, accused second year students of “misrepresentation and fraud” for selling tickets for an event known as Halfway Hall.

Students are thought to have provided their names to buyers, allowing them to assume their identity for the meal on February 9.

Slots for the events, known as formal halls, are understood to be sold over Facebook and Instagram.

The Facebook page Cambridge Formals Marketplace, where college dinner tickets are auctioned off, has more than 13,000 members.

One of the administrators of the groups told The Telegraph: “As far as I can tell people don’t usually sell tickets above the price they paid, but a few probably do by the looks of it.”

How much the spaces were sold for is unknown, but a regular formal meal at Newnham – where students wear gowns and are waited on – costs £17.50.

‘Misrepresentation and fraud’

Dr Barbara Blacklaws, Newnham College’s vice-chancellor, warned that second year students could be investigated and face “serious disciplinary action”, including expulsion.

“To enter, these students must have been given the names of Newnham students to impersonate,” she wrote in an email to undergraduates.

“This is misrepresentation and fraud. Formal hall tickets are not for resale

“If any Newnham students are found to have done this, they are likely to be subject to an investigation and serious disciplinary sanction, which may include being removed from their course.”

However, a student who attended Halfway Hall, held for undergraduates who reach the mid-point of their degree, claimed only “a couple” of non-college members were present.

She said that “quite a few people” were “startled” by Dr Blacklaws’ “strong words”. She doubted whether the threats would be carried out.

“I think for me, it’s a shame that the person who sold the ticket didn’t want to go,” the student added.

Formal halls at Newnham are currently a rare occurrence due to staff shortages from Covid. There are only two bookable formal halls scheduled for this term.

Each formal had 80 spaces available and were booked out in less than an hour after the tickets went live.

Newnham College has declined to comment.