STUDENTS in York released hundreds of red balloons into the sky in protest at the rising cost of their studies.

More than 450 balloons were released by students at York St John College before they joined a major regional rally at Northumbria University.

The release was part of the NUS (National Union of Students) campaign to abolish tuition fees and introduce targeted maintenance support grants.

A recent NUS survey showed that on average, the cost of being a student outside London, is £7,011 a year. With a typical income of £2,788 - 38 weeks of a student loan - they are left substantially in the red.

Tracy Rea, president of the Students' Union at St John's, said: "This union feels that the issue of student funding is extremely important to all students. We have a continuing rise in the number of students coming to us with financial worries.

"It is our responsibility to support and represent these students and ensure we can continue to help in the fight for grants to be reinstated."

Students from St John's made up the biggest group outside the Newcastle area at the rally this week. Ben Monks, national secretary for the NUS, said: "Student hardship is at unprecedented levels, with drop out and debt spiralling. Students at York St John College and throughout the UK are very angry about the funding situation.

"The work carried out by Student Union executive officers and the NUS regional rallies will send a very clear message to the Government that enough is enough and the return of the grant and an end to up-front tuition fees is long overdue. Although a review of funding has been set up, we have to exert maximum pressure to get what students need."

Updated: 14:02 Friday, November 23, 2001