Yale College in Wrexham (budget pound;12.8 million) was astonished to receive a letter from solicitors for the Connecticut university (assets $6.6 billion) saying they were trying to pass themselves off as the American institution.

The college’s aptly-named chair of governors, Sue Stanford, wrote to the university, urging a settlement.

In fact Elihu Yale was born in Wrexham. He ade his fortune in the East India Trading Company, gave a benefaction to the US university, returned to Wrexham and is buried yards from the college.

“The name Yale is indigenous ,” said principal Emlyn Jones. “It was being used round here before Columbus. Our right to the name is more legitimate than theirs.”

But the college could not risk a lawsuit and proposes to call itself Yale College of WrexhamColeg IAL. Changes in stationery will cost a cool pound;10,000.