PROFESSOR Peter Higgs, the Edinburgh University scientist who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work on the so-called "God particle," has backed the campaign to stay in the EU.

The physicist was among a group of nine of the UK's most eminent scientists who have warned that leaving the EU would put Britain's world-leading research at risk.

In an open letter, the group, including seven Nobel laureates, said within the EU Britain "helps steer the biggest scientific powerhouse in the world".

They said the free movements of experts created "scientific agility" and enabled many of the world's finest minds to collaborate.

They also highlighted the importance of EU funding.

The group, which also includes the Nobel Prize-winning stem cell pioneer Sir Martin Evans, said Leave campaign claims that EU funding would be replaced were "naive and complacent" because successive governments had failed to match the present level of resources.

"The prospect of losing EU research funding is a key risk to UK science," they wrote.

"We may be an island, but we cannot be an island in science. Being part of the EU is good for British science and that is good for Britain."

Professor Higgs gave his name to the Higgs boson, sometimes called the "God particle," which is fundamental to laws of particle physics because it provides mass to the most basic building blocks of matter.

He predicted its existence in 1964 but

it was not confirmed until 2012.

When he was awarded the Nobel prize a year later, he said his new-found fame was "a bit of a nuisance".

Other Nobel laureates signing the letter included the biologist Dr Sydney Brenner, physicist Sir Andre Geim and

Sir John Gurdon, a pioneer in the science of cloning.

In total, UK universities received almost £1billion euros in research funding last year.

Conservative, SNP and Labour campaigners have all identified support for Higher Education as a major reason to remain within the EU.

However, Scottish Vote Leave head Tom Harris has argued leaving the EU would benefit Scottish Universities.

He said leaving would allow them to charge EU students, raising around £80million.

The money could be used to provide financial support and extra places for Scottish students.

He said: "The biggest problem for our universities is our membership of the EU."