COLCHESTER student Loren Parry has been denied victory in the final of University Challenge.

Viewers last night watched Loren and her team from St John’s College, Oxford, get beaten by 315 points to 100 by Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

The 25-year-old, who went to Colchester County High School for Girls, said she was disappointed at the result,s but proud to get so far.

She said: “Obviously getting through to the final is pretty impressive, and Jeremy Paxman said he could see we were pressing the buzzers. The other team just got there half a second earlier.

“It was really close for the first third, and we were even briefly in the lead, but they were just faster than us.”

Loren has not achieved the fame of Emmanuel College captain Alex Guttenplan, who has become an internet hearthrob, but has had the occasional piece of fan mail.

She said: “One guy sent me some pictures of myself from the television with an anonymous note saying good luck... that was a bit odd.”