DAMNING emails reveal that the University of Hull sought to clamp down on criticism of BP in its murky deal with the oil giant.

During a season of lectures at the university, sponsored by BP as part of the Hull's City of Culture events, the university approached the corporation, asking "whether it wants us to get rid of" critical comments made about it on its social media.

A freedom of information request, made by research group Culture Sustained, shows that the university's press officer was being wary about comments made during a live Facebook stream of the first BP Cultural Visions lecture earlier this year.