Oxford suffered defeat at the hands of historic rivals Cambridge in a 60th anniversary rerun of a unique wartime University Boat Race.

The result evened the score for Cambridge, who had suffered defeat in the 1944 race in the Cambridgeshire Fens at Ely.

The race, traditionally held on the River Thames in London, was cancelled for four years -- between 1940 and 1943 -- after the outbreak of the Second World War.

But in 1944 it was held at Ely, the only time in the event's history that crews from Oxford University and Cambridge have not raced along the Thames.

On Saturday, veteran rowers from the universities battled over the same mile-and-a-half course on the Great Ouse to commemorate the 1944 race, which Oxford won by three-quarters of a length.

Six decades on Cambridge finished first, beating Oxford by four-and-a-half lengths.

Members of the wartime crews were guests of honour during a day of celebrations which included a flypast by a Spitfire fighter aircraft and a thanksgiving service.

The current university crews will contest the 150th Boat Race on the Thames later this month.