Ruth Padel resigned after just over a week in the prestigious post after she admitted tipping off journalists to an allegation levelled 27 years ago against Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, who also sought the coveted Oxford post.

Mr Walcott pulled out of the race for the job after anonymous letters were sent to more than 100 professors at Oxford University reportedly detailing an allegation made by a former student against him in 1982.

The 79-year-old told reporters he had no wish to be part of a contest that had 'degenerated into a low and degrading attempt at character assassination'.

On May 16, Ms Padel, a great-great granddaughter of Charles Darwin, was elected Professor of Poetry following a vote by Oxford graduates and academic staff, beating rival Indian poet Arvind Mehrotra.

Ms Padel admitted on Monday that she had told journalists of the allegation against Mr Walcott after a student expressed concern, prompting newspaper coverage of the issue, but insisted she knew nothing about the letter campaign.

Ms Padel - the first woman to take on the Oxford poetry professorship since it was created in 1708 - said she had 'acted in complete good faith'.

She said she wished Mr Walcott had not pulled out and would have been 'happy to lose' to him, but acknowledged: 'I can see that people might interpret my actions otherwise.

The post is voted for by Oxford graduates and requires the holder amongst other things to deliver three public lectures a year - plus an oration in Latin every other year at Oxford's honorary degree ceremony. -- AFP