OXFORD University students have voted to ban gowns which mark out the highest-achieving from 'commoners' in law exams.

The Oxford Student Union agreed a motion that the gowns might boost the wearers' chances of getting picked up by partners from private law firms who help judge the exams.

The gowns in question are awarded to high-achieving students and are worn at 'moots' - mock law cases that students are required to take part in to complete their degree.

Students who don't wear the gowns are said to be wearing 'commoners' clothes.

Second-year law student Thomas Howard, who proposed the motion, told his fellow union members that 'judges, sometimes from leading law firms and chambers, may have unconscious bias based on the gowns worn'.

The motion passed with 38 votes in favour, three in opposition and two abstentions.