by Sam Lennon

Students in Ashford joined nationwide protests over tuition fees with a sit-down demonstration at their college.

Almost 20 teenagers from K College in Jemmett Road today spent hours in the lobby with banners.

Photography student Josh Jordan, 19, said: "This is a peaceful protest against the massive rise.

"It means a lot of students will not be able to afford to go to university. It is certainly putting me off the idea of going."

Art student Rhoda Jeffries, 16, said: "For working class families this will make it really hard for their children to go to university

"We have also raised a petition of more than 100 signatures, which has been signed by tutors as well as students."

The protest at the former South Kent College carried on peacefully on a day students nationwide demonstrated against the raising of fees to a maximum £9,000 a year.

Marches, walkouts and protests were carried out at several universities and colleges nationwide with nearby events including a march in Hastings.

But a major demonstration turned ugly in central London when police were injured in clashes with protesters.

A parked police van in Whitehall was smashed and smeared with graffiti and one officer was believed to have had his arm broken.

Today's demonstrations come exactly two weeks after a mass protest in central London erupted in violence with an attack on the Conservatives' headquarters building at Millbank.

One student appeared in court in London today accused of throwing a fire extinguisher from the roof that day.

The coalition government intends to lift the current cap of £3,290 for university tuition fees.

From 2012 universities in England will be able to charge £6,000 a year or up to £9,000 if they ensure access for poorer students.

However graduates will have to earn at least £21,000, rather than the current £15,000 before they have to pay their loans back.