An investigation is to be launched after vital exam papers went missing.

Up to 15 students from the Harwich and Clacton centres of the Tendring Adult Community College are waiting for certificates.

They were studying exams in accounts and databases under the newly-formed Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts Examination Group.

The college sent off the coursework by recorded delivery - but now they have gone missing.

A spokesman for the OCR said: "We had received nothing from the college, as far as we are concerned we have issued certificates for all the batches of work that have been submitted to us and we have received."

He added that OCR would now be checking to see if any papers had gone astray.

But the spokesman said a problem was only noted after one candidate wrote in to say there was one module he had not received a certificate for.

He added that he would have expected the college to get in touch if there had been a problem.

Michael Bowes, Tendring Adult Community College's principal, said the college may consider legal action and ask for compensation. The pupils paid £60 for the course and if that has to be refunded OCR could be asked to pay up.

It is hoped that much of the work will be saved on disk and can be resubmitted.

But in the worst case scenario Mr Bowes said students may have to do the work again.

The University of Cambridge Local Examining Syndicate, which included the Oxford Examination Board and the Royal Society of Arts has combined to make the Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts Examination Group.

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