STUDENTS at Lancaster University burnt their degrees in protest at the introduction of tuition fees on Friday.

The students originally planned to hold a funeral procession to mark the death of further eduction - but changed their plans after a student's sudden death recently.

Instead they burnt mock degree certificates on a bonfire to represent 'education going up in smoke.' Then they placed a mock charge on students attending lectures to draw attention to the fact that higher education will no longer be free next year if the Government gets its way.

The students reckon charging students will put less well off youngsters off from attending university. The National Union of Students calculate that under the new funding arrangements the average graduate will leave university with debts in the region of £12,000.

Lancaster University Students Union President Guy McEvoy said: "How can we honestly expect to attract all able people into higher education if a pre-requirement is that they take on what is basically the equivalent of a quarter mortgage?

"Within ten years if these proposals go through then education will become increasingly a thing only for those who can pay and not necessarily for those who are able. The introduction of tuition fees and the complete abolition of grants are wrong and all right minded people must oppose them."

The report stage for the bill will be held in the House of Lords on February 23 and 16.

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