One of the country’s most popular poets, Philip Larkin, turned down the chance to be Oxford University’s professor of poetry, it has emerged.

Rachel Trickett, a fellow of St Hugh’s College, invited Larkin in 1968 to put his name forward, but he turned down the post.

Larkin, who died in 1985, also turned down the chance to be poet laureate in 1984.

The discovery of Larkin’s letter to the college came as candidates compete to replace Geoffrey Hill.

They include Simon Armitage, Wole Soyinka, AE Stallings, Ian Gregson and Seán Haldane, and they face a vote by Oxford graduates.

Graduates must register to vote by Monday (June 8) and voting will run until June 17.