The hour hand of a chapel clock taken in a student prank and replaced with a cardboard copy is back at a Cambridge University college after nearly 90 years.

Trixie Baker inherited it upon the death of her father, Gonville and Caius graduate Geoffrey Hunter Baker, in 1999 aged 83. 

Mr Baker, a modern languages student there between 1934 and 1937, and an unnamed friend took both the clock's hands – and kept one each.

His daughter returned the hour hand late last year, and it now resides in the College Archive alongside other tales of student pranks – known as 'rags'. The minute hand remains missing.

College archivist James Cox said: 'I was delighted to welcome Trixie to the College and to receive the clock hand.

'Learning of student escapades is part of the College's long and varied history.

'While we don't encourage students to take part in such pranks, I am happy to learn about them years later, when no-one has been hurt and no permanent damage has been done - and they've graduated!'

Gonville and Caius was first founded as Gonville Hall by Edmund Gonville, Rector of Terrington St Clement in Norfolk, in 1348.

It was re-founded in 1557 by John Caius as Gonville and Caius College.

In 1958, engineering students from the college were responsible for placing an Austin Seven van on the roof of Senate House, Cambridge University's ceremonial building where graduation ceremonies take place.

And in 1921, Gonville and Caius students secretly spirited away a six-ton German artillery gun from Jesus Close and displayed it in Caius Court.

Anyone with information about the missing minute hand has been to contact the College archivist via the College website.