Rag week was once an extremely popular event in Cirencester, writes Robert Heaven.

The mad-cap events of the students cheered many a cold March day, but not everyone enjoyed the antics.

Dry cleaners were kept busy in the weeks that followed removing flour and egg stains from the coats and jackets of onlookers.

Pictures today are from 1968, 1972 and 1978.

RAG stands for Raising and Giving referring to its charitable purpose.