A LURID dossier sent to women in Oxford has resulted in the withdrawal from the race to become Oxford University’s new professor of poetry of the Nobel Prize laureate Derek Walcott, left.

The dossier, which contained allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Walcott, was sent anonymously to female staff and graduates eligible to vote in Saturday’s election for the professorship.

Supporters of Mr Walcott reacted angrily to what they denounced as a “smear campaign”.

Mr Walcott, 79, who had been the front runner for the five-year post, took the university by surprise by saying he was pulling out.

It is believed that up to 100 letters were sent to women, including heads of colleges, setting out accusations from former students against Mr Walcott, which were made when he was teaching in America in the 1980s.

Mr Walcott said he had chosen to withdraw to avoid causing embarrassment to himself and his supporters.

He said: “I do not want to get into a race for a post where it causes embarrassment to those who have chosen to support me for the role or to myself.”

The university said the election would go ahead with only two candidates: Ruth Padel and Indian poet Arvind Mehrotra.