OXFORD has made it five in a row as Britain's top university in a new edition of The Times Good University Guide.

It stretched its lead over Cambridge, which had enjoyed an unbroken nine-year run at the top until being overtaken by Oxford in 2002.

The dark blues have established their dominance over their ancient rivals, although Cambridge retains a considerable lead in the ranking for individual subjects.

Both of Britain's oldest universities enjoyed a clear lead over third-placed Imperial College, London, which lagged almost 100 points behind Cambridge in the table.

Oxford Brookes University, ranked 54th, completed an academic double for the city as the highest placed of the new universities.

Oxford University's grip on the top spot was helped largely by higher spending on library and computing facilities and a bigger proportion of students awarded at least a 2:1 degree.

The university's continued success comes amid intense internal debate about reforms to its system of governance.

Dr John Hood, the Vice-Chancellor, published proposals last week that would give a majority on Oxford's governing council to people from outside the university for the first time in its 900-year history.

Dons are split over the controversial plans, which will be put to Congregation this year.

Loughborough University, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, has been named England's top provincial university, while Aston University rose from 26th to 13th, to join Warwick, Bath and York among the 1960s institutions featured in the league's top 15.

Dr Hood, said: "I'm delighted that the university's position as the top UK institution has been confirmed by The Times now for the fifth year running, as well as by The Guardian for the last two years."