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Many academics may feel higher education is short on laughs, but two lecturers are doing their best to inject humour not only into their courses but also into the community at large.

Bela Arora, a lecturer in international security at the University of Wales, Swansea, and Pete Kerr, a lecturer in politics at Birmingham University, have launched a not-for-profit company called Hullaballoo Comedy.

It aims to bring affordable stand-up comedy to students and young professionals reluctant to shell out more than ?10 to get into established comedy clubs.

Both see humour as a key element in their teaching. Dr Arora said: "If you can bring something to life through humour, it can only benefit the students."

Dr Kerr said: "Academia does sometimes crush your creative spirit. It's quite good to branch out in such a radical way."