A member of staff at the University of Bradford dressed up as legendary Queen singer Freddie Mercury for the day to raise funds to help raise awareness of Aids.

University administration officer Dan McGlade donned the distinctive yellow jacket and moustache yesterday to raise money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

The trust undertakes fundraising activities to keep Aids awareness and education in the forefront, through the use of Freddie’s name, charisma and magic.

The trust has focussed its policy to concentrate on HIV and Aids education and awareness in the developing world.

Mr McGlade said: “What makes this event special, in addition to the work that Mercury Phoenix Trust does, is how much Freddie Mercury meant to me personally.

“I discovered his music at the age of 13 and it blew my mind. Strangely, it was years before I even knew what Queen looked like!

“But of course, then it all makes sense. The flamboyance, the spectacle of it all, fitted the music completely. They’ve been my favourite group ever since, and Freddie, of course, is central to that.

“If it wasn’t for Freddie, I certainly wouldn’t have become a musician. In a very small way, this seems a nice way to give something back, by honouring him via a cause that I believe would have meant so much to him.”