BOSSES at Bournemouth University have hit back at claims that it was a disgrace to invite students to watch a controversial film disputing the link between global warming and human activity.

Third World fundraiser David Weight from Poole says it is both damaging and dangerous to pollute the minds of young people "with such trash" by letting them watch The Great Global Warming Swindle at the university.

The film, shown on Channel Four last month, prompted an outcry among the scientific world and media after it argued that global warming has nothing to do with Man's negative effects on the environment.

The film was due to be shown at the campus last night as part of a series called Global Cinema.

Mr Weight said: "I deal with Cafod fundraising and I have become increasingly aware that helping the poor in the Third World is not enough and does not get to the root of the problem.

"Much poverty and violent hostilities are caused by drought, caused by global warming. For example, the war in Sudan is caused by environmental migration caused by drought.

"This film is fraudulent."

Among others, the Royal Society, the British government and leading climate scientist Sir John Houghton have all condemned the content of the film, said Mr Weight.

A press spokeswoman at Bournemouth University said: "It is important as a university that we represent a variety of views and do not shy away from what is controversial.

"It is through controversy and showing students that there is a variety of sources of information - some good, some bad, some indifferent - that we come to understand how the world works and how the perspectives of others are influenced.

"Our students have to form their own opinion about the reliability of sources."