THE family of jailed York student Frank Fernie are preparing to visit him in prison as support grows for the campaign to free him.

More than 1,200 people have joined the campaign’s webpage on Facebook and 700 people have signed a petition calling for the 20-year-old’s release.

He was jailed for throwing wooden poles at police officers during an anti-Government spending cuts demonstration. Well-wishers have sent a postbag of letters to him and the family hopes his new solicitor will soon lodge an appeal.

Frank is currently in Feltham Young Offenders Institution in west London, serving a 12-month sentence. His mother, Diane, said they had received offers of support, transport and accommodation to be able to visit him as his sister, Vicky, has a badly injured leg and cannot use public transport.

“There has been a lot of physical and mental support,” Diane said.

“He says he’s fine when I have spoken to him. He will keep a level head.

“He is not the average teenager or young person. He is such an exception to the rule.”

She said she was proud of him joining in the anti-cuts campaign, though not of him throwing objects at police.

The family hope he will be moved to a prison near York soon so it will be easier to visit him.

Frank was arrested after being captured on CCTV on March 26. He had originally intended to demonstrate peacefully in the March For The Alternative, but then got involved in the melee outside Fortnum & Mason’s Piccadilly store.