An Oxford graduate is suing the university for £1million because he did not get a first class degree.

Faiz Siddiqui claims he was the "victim of poor teaching" that cost him the chance of a lucrative legal career.

The history graduate alleges the "inadequate" teaching he received on the Indian special subject part of his course resulted in him only getting a low upper second degree when he took his finals in June 2000 instead of a First or high 2:1.

He blames the situation on staff being absent on sabbatical leave and alleges that medical information about him was not submitted to the examiners by a tutor.

But Oxford say Mr Siddiqui's claim that he had lost out in his career was "complete speculation and fanciful".

Mr Siddiqui, 39, who has put his claim at £1 million, says he would have become an international commercial lawyer if he had gained the top qualification at the end of his time at Brasenose College.