HISTORY will be made in Winchester this week when Hampshire's newest university is officially launched.

King Alfred's College has been given the power to award its own degrees instead of relying on Southampton University for accreditation.

The college has changed its name to University College Winchester to mark the occasion.

The elevation has been widely welcomed in Winchester. It brings more prestige to the city and many are predicting it will be an economic boost.

But some residents are miffed that the King Alfred logo has been dropped from yet another one of Winchester's old organisations.

Keith Storey, chairman of the Winchester Meadows Conservation Alliance, said: "I think it's a great shame. They are forgetting their roots in this historic city and when you forget your roots you can go in the wrong direction. It seems they want to compete with other universities instead of establishing their own special identity."

Last year Winchester City Council ditched Alfred from its tourism logo too. Bosses of the new varsity are keen to stress that their main campus at Sparkford Road will be renamed King Alfred Campus.

Gill Longman, head of communication and marketing services, said: "The new name says more clearly what we are and what we do. We give degrees, King Alfred's doesn't say that. There is a degree of prestige attached to the title 'University College'.

"It's an exciting time of change for everyone associated with the college or Winchester."

A programme of celebrations has been planned. Tomorrow a procession of staff, students and governors will leave Wolvesey accompanied by the Bishop of Winchester at 4pm.

The procession will include the blowing of a Moot Horn outside 27 St Swithun Street, the first site of the college when it opened in 1840.

The first batch of students to receive University College Winchester degrees will be postgraduates starting courses in September and graduating in 2005.