London: A British university has been indict for overreacting for banning graduating students from tossing mortarboards into the air on health and safety grounds.

"It was curbing cap-throwing after a number of injuries over recent years to graduates hurt by falling mortarboards", The University of East Anglia in eastern England told students.

"we would much prefer to do these photos the traditional way but have to comply with the university's wishes", said Penguin Photography, which takes graduates' portraits.

According to Geoff Cox of Britain's Health and Safety Executive, "the chance of being injured by a flying mortarboard is incredibly small and it's over the top to impose an outright ban."