A PHOTOGRAPH of the Beatles in Oxford is believed to have been taken as part of a student prank.

The photo, which shows the Fab Four and a young Jeffrey Archer at Vincent's Club in 1964, went missing from the club, in King Edward Street, after the Oxford and Cambridge Varsity boxing match.

Students at Oxford suspect the photograph, which has been described as "priceless" by experts specialising in Beatles memorabilia, was taken by their Cambridge rivals in revenge for losing the match earlier this month.

Vincent's manager Radha Gopalan said: "The members are very upset. Some people believe it was stolen by someone who came from Cambridge University.

"We were in utter shock when we found out.

"We just couldn't believe someone had stolen it. It's a great part of the history of the club.

advertisement "I don't know if someone got drunk and took it and now they're too embarrassed to bring it back, but if they return it to us we'll be happy."

The 12inx12in photo, which was hanging in the bar, is similar to one printed in the Oxford Mail three weeks ago and was taken on March 5, 1964 - and stolen almost exactly 44 years to the day.

The photograph was taken in the bar when the band visited Brasenose College to celebrate Oxfam's 21st birthday.

Stuart Garman, president of the Oxford University Amateur Boxing Club, said: "It was quite a celebration for us, because we'd won that night, but it was less of a celebration for Cambridge.

"We think they might have taken it as a prank, to get back at our team.

"It's quite a common thing when clubs play away from home that students get a trophy of some sort, but this time it has had bigger ramifications, because it's quite a treasure piece. Students like to pinch something as a prank and they may not realise the value of what they've taken.

Jason Cornthwaite, who is a valuer for the worldwide Beatles memorabilia dealer Tracks, said: "An original Beatles photo would usually retail at between £100 to £200, but when something is stolen like this the value is priceless to its owners, because it can't really be replaced."

Oxford police spokesman Toby Shergold said: "A theft of a photo from Vincent's club was reported to us.

"Police are not currently investigating the incident, because there's no evidence for us to go on, but the case isn't closed, so if anyone passes us any information on the suspects or the whereabouts of the photo, we will look into it."

No one was available to comment at Cambridge University.