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The agony was prolonged this week for school-leavers in clearing limbo because of the extended Bank Holiday enjoyed by universities.

Candidates who tried to get through to Leeds University on Tuesday, for example, were informed that the institution was closed and were directed to a clearing hotline. But would-be students' hopes were rudely dashed - when they redialled, they found that the hotline had gone cold. It was closed for the day as well.