BOURNEMOUTH film students have added their tributes to those paid to Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella, who died on Tuesday aged 54.

One of the world's most respected film directors, Mr Minghella had close links with Dorset, particularly with Bournemouth University and the Arts Institute.

Two years ago he formally opened the Screen Academy, a joint initiative between the two bodies. He was awarded an honorary doctorate at Bournemouth in 2001.

Mr Minghella was born on the Isle of Wight and retained strong links with the south of England despite his career taking him all over the world.

He won an Oscar for The English Patient in 1997 and was nominated for awards in later years for his work on The Talented Mr Ripley and Cold Mountain.

He was also involved in a number of television series including Grange Hill and Inspector Morse.

Charles Elder from Bournemouth University said staff and students were shocked and upset to hear of Mr Minghella's death.

"He definitely touched the lives of our students. He was one of those people who was good at nurturing other people's talents, as well as displaying his own."

Professor Stuart Bartholomew, principal of the Arts Institute, said: "His association with the Bournemouth Screen Academy is a measure of his commitment to aspiring students of film and to sustaining the excellence of the British film industry. He will be greatly missed."