Winchester has a new university college.

Known as King Alfred's College until last week, the institution is now allowed, by Government, to award its own degrees rather than through Southampton University.

In recognition of the new powers, it is re-naming itself University College Winchester.

Marking the occasion, around 120 staff and students marched through the city on Tuesday.

The event began at Wolvesey, residence of the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt.

He joined the procession as it headed to 27, St Swithun Street, the original site of the college when it opened in 1840 under the name of Winchester Diocesan Training School.

It moved to its present home at Sparkford Road in 1862 and became King Alfred's College in 1928, remaining for boys only until 1960.

Today, the college has 5,750 students, both full and part-time, of which 500 are at its recently-opened business studies annexe at Chute House, Basingstoke.

After blowing a moot horn, which was used as a rallying call in the Middle Ages, in St Swithun Street, the party moved to Winchester Cathedral. There, a group of students spelled out the college's new name with placards.

The procession then headed to Sparkford Road where a service was held in the college chapel before a reception at the West Downs Centre.

Principal, Professor Paul Light, said the university college status recognised its good record in recent years.

He believes the new name will help to raise its profile with students and attract extra funding.

"It's a big change from King Alfred's to University College, Winchester, and it will take us a while to get used to it," he added.

The authority to award degrees makes the institution a university in all but name, he said.

Another name change is looming as the college intends to apply for full university status later this year. If it is successful, the signs unveiled at Sparkford Road this week could be replaced with others identifying the University of Winchester, Professor Light said.

In addition to changing its name, the college is revamping its main campus.

Planning permission has been obtained to convert the John Stripe Theatre, built in 1969, into a £2m lecture centre.

Other proposals include a new student centre, likely to cost over £6m, and extra accommodation.

The college plans to award its first degrees to students beginning courses this September and graduating next year.

Its decision to remove King Alfred from its title and logo comes just months after a similar move by city council tourism chiefs.

However, the name will live on at the Sparkford Road site, which will now be called King Alfred's Campus.