Bologna

Twenty-eight foreign-language lecturers sacked 13 months ago by the University of Bologna for refusing to sign a new contract downgrading their status to that of technicians have began work again following a local labour court ruling.

Linda Armstrong, from London, one of eight Britons involved, said: "It is scandalous that the university was officially notified of our reinstatement in June and yet left us without wages over the summer as part of its vendetta."