AN OXFORD college has apologised after it accidentally circulated a list of hundreds of candidates it had rejected.

Hertford College sent emails telling potential undergraduates they had been turned down but attached copies of letters addressed to all 200 other unsuccessful candidates.

The emails, sent from the college's senior tutor also contained names, email addresses and subjects. 

The college's principal, Will Hutton, said in a statement: "We would like to apologise to all applicants affected by this mistake for any distress caused.

"We are now taking steps to make sure this type of error involving personal information does not happen again."