University College Worces-ter has gained full status at last but there is still one important position left to fill.

The University of Worcester is on the lookout for an influential professional to become the new Chancellor.

A public face is needed for a university with a new campus on the cards and a growing army of students, who will raise the reputation of the university along with the profile of Worcester and the surrounding region.

It could be a famed academic with links to the Faithful City, a successful sportsman or local celebrity, such as television stars Chris Tarrant, or comic Rik Mayall, who bothattended The King's School, in Worcester.

Aston University in Birm-ingham once had Sir Adrian Cadbury, Sheffield Hallam University has fertility expert Robert Winston, Durham University has celebrated author Bill Bryson and the University of Gloucester-shire in Cheltenham has former archbishop of Canter-bury Lord Carey of Clifton.

John Ryan, University of Worcester Registrar and Secretary said: "The position of Chancellor is an extremely prestigious post, and we are currently taking sounding on who will be appointed to this honorary position."

The duties of the chancellor, as a ceremonial figurehead, can include presiding over graduation ceremonies and supporting the institutions fund-raising events.

After 10 years of hard work the University met all the criteria laid down by Govern-ment and became a full status university.

It means that Worcester will be opening its doors to an extra 500 students each year and a boost in the local economy with more job opportunities.

Mr Ryan said: "The Chancellor will undoubtedly help to maintain and raise the profile of the University of Worcester, and the City and the region as a whole. The Board of Governors will be making an announcement in due course."

HERE'S SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER'S FIRST CHANCELLOR

Leslie Law

The local Olympic ace, based in Naunton, near Upton-upon-Severn, wowed the crowds at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and scooped individual gold and Great Britain team silver on his horse Shear L'Eau.

Leslie Law often raises money for local charities and once sold horse dung on auction website ebay, the proceeds of which went to hospices in the Hereford and Worcester area.

Earlier this year he picked up another medal, an MBE for services to equestrian sport, and he has also written a book about his experiences, entitled Shear Gold.

Lord Walker

Conservative MP for Worcester for 31 years, Peter Walker became the youngest Member of the Commons in March 1961 when elected in a by-election.

He was a member of the Conservative cabinet longer than anyone else in the 20th Century apart from Lloyd George, Churchill and Lord Hailsham.

He was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment in 1970 and his last political role was Secretary of State for Wales, which he took up in 1987.

He was made an honorary Freeman of the City in 2002.

Cecil Duckworth

He is one of Worcester's most successful businessmen. Cecil Duckworth's central heating business, Worcester Group, was taken over by Bosch in 1992.

As chairman and benefactor he has put his financial muscle behind the city's rugby club, the Worcester Warriors.

In last year's birthday honours list he received an OBE and in January he was voted Central's West Midlander of the Year.

He also puts a lot of money and time into helping the community through the Duckworth Trust, which aims to keep the city clean and safe.

Robert Plant

The former Led Zeppelin front man has inspired generations of musicians since he first hit the world stage in the late 60s.

He is the patron of MAS Records in Kidderminster, which has signed up a lot of up-and-coming bands in the area.

He lives in Shatterford, near Kidderminster and was involved in the campaign to stop the downgrading of Kidderminster General Hospital.

He helped with the costs of an unsuccessful application for a judicial review of the downgrading of the hospital, which cost the health campaigners £50,000.

Toyah Wilcox

The actress and pop star would surely be a winner among female students, and many of the men, come to that.

The star, who does not come from Worcestershire, has lived in Pershore for some years.

She was prominent in the campaign to stop the plans for an asylum seekers centre at Throckmorton, near Pershore. She is famed for acting roles in productions such as The Corn is Green, opposite Katharine Hepburn, and Quadrophenia.

She recently appeared on ITV's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and is famous for musical hits I Want to be Free and It's A Mystery.