SOLICITORS for jailed student protestor Frank Fernie have officially started the appeal against his 12-month sentence.

Today, as his family, friends and supporters prepare to march through York, a childhood friend spoke of the 20-year-old care volunteer’s “heart of gold”.

Well-wishers are expected to come from different parts of England to take part in a Free Frank Fernie march organised by the campaign to set him free.

His mother, Diane, said: “I am definitely hopeful. Obviously I believe Frank shouldn’t be in prison.”

A High Court judge will now decide if Frank’s appeal should go before the Court of Appeal.

Joe Sellars, campaign manager for the Free Frank Fernie group, said he had known the York student since they were both seven years old.

“He has got a heart of gold and would never hurt anyone,” he said.

“He had intended to protest peacefully and is not part of any anti-cuts or anarchist group.”

Frank, of Filey Terrace, Clifton, who has worked for several charities and good causes in York while studying, was jailed for throwing two long sticks at police during violence linked to the mass TUC anti-Government spending cuts demonstration in London in March. His family, friends and other sympathisers will gather at 1.15pm in Parliament Street, for a rally before marching through the city centre, and there will be speeches and testimonials to the former York College and Archbishop Holgate’s CE pupil.

Joe said: “Frank is a classic example of wrong place, wrong time. He is just naturally unlucky and this time was the big one.”

Since he was jailed, nearly 1,500 friends and supporters joined a campaign on social networking site Facebook called “Free York Student Frank Fernie”.

Free Frank Fernie is campaigning for a reduction in sentence and an end to political policing. For more details, visit freefrankfernie.info