KEELE University may not resemble the fictional Hogwarts school.

But a group of students have managed to sprinkle the campus with some Harry Potter magic by adopting one of the budding wizard's favourite sports.

With an equipment bag including broomsticks, a Snitch, Bludgers and a Quaffle, members of Alvada Keele Davra take part in regular sessions of Quidditch – a sport made famous by JK Rowling's books and then the film versions.

And the Keele University Quidditch Society, which currently has 60 students signed up, is preparing for its first real match next month when they will take on fellow enthusiasts from the University of Leicester.

Psychology and criminology student Megan Shaw, aged 20, brought the sport to Keele following a trip to America.

The Preston-born third year, who is the team's head coach, said: "I studied at the Old Dominion University in Virginia as part of my second year and Quidditch is massive in America.

"I got involved and really enjoyed it and so decided to set up a society here and I have been really pleased by the reaction."

In the Harry Potter stories, Quidditch is played using flying broomsticks and players must score points by hurling the Quaffle – a type of ball with hand grips - through a hoop in the air.

Another element of the game is to collect the flying Golden Snitch while dodging Bludgers, hurled by opposition players.

At Keele, enthusiasts play with the broomsticks between their legs, using one hand to get the Quaffle through the hoop.

Another member is nominated to keep hold of the Snitch, in a sock tied to the waist, and is allowed to break the boundaries of the pitch in order to keep the object away from the participants.

A variety of roles including seekers, who attempt to snare the neutral Snitch, and chasers are also played out.

Rob Barringer, aged 21, a third year biomedical science student, who lives on the campus, said: "It basically becomes a cross between dodgeball, handball, rugby, and hide-and-seek. The snitch can go anywhere as can the seekers so it is a lot of fun."

Games are played on fields on the campus and consist of seven players per team with three hoops set up across the pitch's boundaries.

Fellow enthusiast Steven Titley, from Bradeley, who studies applied biomedical science, plays as a goalkeeper or chaser.

The 20-year-old said: "I got involved for a bit of a laugh, but I have found it to be really good exercise."

Ben Marton, aged 21, from Bucknall, a biology and biochemistry student, said: "It's not like other sports and everyone can play it. It can get quite tough."

And the practice sessions have also been known to leave their mark as players battle to be King or Queen of the Quaffle.

Zoe Ludford-Brooks, aged 19, an American studies and history student, said: "I get injured quite a lot and I have been head-butted before."

The team name is also Harry Potter-inspired, as Avada Kedavra is a killing curse in the hit series.