Students given guinea pigs to deal with stress

Students at Cambridge University are being given guinea pigs to help ease their stress levels. Managers at Lucy Cavendish College hope the pets will improve mental well-being.

Three of the pets have been named after feminist icons – Emmeline Squeakhurst, Virguinea Woolf, Ruth Bader Guineasburg – while the fourth has been called Oreo. Dr Jane Greatorex, senior tutor, said: “Numerous studies over the years have shown the benefits of owning pets.”