A UNIVERSITY was today signing a five-year contract to carry out research with Russia - thanks to a freak snowstorm.

The unique partnership was formed when student Fred Harris, of Bradda Road, Blackburn, ended up sharing a room with two Russians while attending a conference in America.

He was supposed to be sharing with an American, but the man got caught in a snowstorm and couldn't make it at the last minute.

When Fred, who is studying for a biology PhD at the University of Central Lancashire, started talking to the Russians, he discovered they were involved in similar work.

He then arranged for his university to get in touch with the Russian Academy of Science and the partnership was formed.

Fred said: "It's all come about by sheer luck. If the American had turned up then the partnership may never have been formed." Professor Dave Phoenix then established a link with Professor Eugene Korotkov from the Academy via the worldwide E-mail system.

Prof Phoenix visited Moscow earlier this year and now Prof Korotkov is in Lancashire to sign the deal, which will involve the two universities carrying out analysis of DNA, with a view of detecting genetic diseases.

Prof Phoenix said: "It's a very exciting project and we hope to learn a lot from each other.

"We'll be keeping in touch and reporting our findings via E-mail, which means there will be a constant link between the two establishments."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.