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For the thousands of students of Bournemouth University, the freshers ball is one of only two official opportunities students get to put on their formal gear during their time at the university - and it all happened in one of Boscombe's oldest entertainment venues, The Opera House.

The Opera House was built in 1895

It was built in 1895, and earlier this year the building received a huge makeover - and is one of the few venues in the Bournemouth area that could handle 2,500 students, and perhaps the only one with such unique Victorian surroundings.

Ornate venue

Students' Union Events Manager Angus Carter, who put the event together, thinks the freshers ball is an important event in the freshers' calendar.

He starts working on the ball in the summer.

"There's a few months planning that goes into it beforehand. And this year's is a bit different as it's the first time we're using a different entrance to the venue. Students are going into the Opera House via The Royal Arcade, which leads straight into the main hall."

"It's a really ornate and grand venue."

2,500 students were there

Angus says they first used The Opera House as the freshers ball venue three years ago, and then again in 2007.

"We deliberately have the ball a few weeks after the main freshers' events so people can have a bit of time to catch their breath.

"It's a formal dress event and there aren't many in the calendar for Bournemouth's students - their next one is not until graduation, several years away, so everyone looks forward to the freshers ball."