A STUDENT from York captured pictures and video footage of rioters in London during the protests against tuition fee increases.

Andrew Jessop, 22, a film and TV production student at York St John University, said he went to London on Wednesday to make a documentary about the demonstration.

He travelled down to the capital with coachloads of students who joined the mainly peaceful demonstration, but went to the Tory party headquarters at Millbank because he suspected trouble was about to break out. He was then able to capture on camera the moment when rioters began smashing windows and breaking into the complex.

His pictures included a policeman wiping blood from his face after one of the initial clashes and a line of police officers in front of cracked windows.

He said he saw missiles thrown, including a brick which flew about a metre away from his head.

Labour’s candidate for Heslington at next year’s local elections, University of York graduate David Levene, who was among the demonstrators, described the fee increases as a “massive betrayal” by the Lib Dems, but also condemned those responsible for the violence.

A York student leader has said anyone involved in the violence should be expelled from their universities.

Leigh Hankinson, York St John University student union president, was among 450 students from York St John and the University of York who attended the protests against tuition fee increases in London on Wednesday.

About eight busloads of York students went to the capital to take part in the mainly peaceful protest, which attracted 50,000 students.

Leigh said the protest was marred by the mindless actions of a few, claiming: “There were a lot of people just peacefully marching and it was just a small group who smashed windows.

“I think the people responsible should be expelled from their universities and face criminal charges. They should be treated like any other member of the public who wouldn’t be able to get away with that kind of behaviour.”