Stephen Hawking: money not there for students with my kind of condition

Scientist praises college for supporting him but fears young ambitious academics of today in similar position would not get same backing

World-renowned physicist and author Stephen Hawking has spoken of fears that a gifted academic with a condition as serious as his own would not be able to flourish in today's tough economic times.

The 73-year-old, Britain's highest-profile scientist who found fame with a new audience following the release of award-winning film The Theory Of Everything, expressed the concerns at an event to celebrate his 50th year as a fellow at the University of Cambridge's Gonville and Caius college.