LONDON • Renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking was among 150 academics to declare support for Britain remaining in the European Union yesterday in a letter that said leaving the bloc would damage science and research.

"If the UK leaves the EU and there is a loss of freedom of movement of scientists between the UK and Europe, it will be a disaster for UK science and universities," the academics wrote in a letter to The Times newspaper.

The signatories are Cambridge scientists, mathematicians, engineers and economists and all are also fellows of the Royal Society, Britain's leading scientific institution.

Britain is due to vote on June 23 on whether to remain in the 28-member bloc.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE