STUDENTS from the University of Southampton dressed to the nines for an evening of glitz and glam.

Thousands of students gathered to celebrate the end of their university experience at the student union at the Highfield campus.

The union was transformed to fit in with this year’s Eden Project theme and consisted of six different venues which offered a range of live entertainment.

This included performances from rock band Don Broco, singer-songwriter Hannah Trigwell, former Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding and DJs Tom Zanetti & KO Kane.

There was also a Shisha Garden, Food Fair, Massaoke and Silent Disco for students to enjoy.

Final year Biochemistry student, Alex Fower who attended said: “Grad Ball was the perfect way to end uni.

"It was nice to walk around and get involved in a bit of everything.

"Me and my friends really enjoyed the Silent Disco and spent most of our night there! Everyone was in a great mood, and the union looked amazing.”

The event was organised collaboratively by the student Grad Ball Committee and Union Staff members, who spent several months planning and promoting the night.

Sam Higman, one of the committee members, said: “The venue looked unbelievable – it exceeded expectations.”

Alex Hovden, Union President comments: “Grad Ball this year was a great event. The committee of students had been working hard for six months to plan for it, and it definitely showed with some fantastic artists coming to play.

"We also transformed our union into a secret garden, which was very well received by attendees.”