Students from Oxford University protested around the city yesterday at Government plans to scrap grants.

About 500 demonstrated on the streets after meeting at lunchtime near St Anne's College in Bevington Road on the day before the Teaching and Higher Education Bill has its final reading today.

They were also opposing the introduction of tuition fees in the march which was followed by a rally at St Catherine's College, Manor Road.

Evan Harris, the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, told students: "This is an example of some of the worst things that are happening in politics today. The saddest thing about this whole business is that it wasn't in the Labour manifesto. Labour MPs have come up to me and said how embarrassed they are."

He added that he hoped as many Labour MPs as possible would rebel in a later stage of the Bill this month and abstain to upset the voting.

Cath Fletcher, 23, a supporter of the Campaign for Free Education, told the rally: "One thing I always find quite amusing about what New Labour is doing is that they are always keen to talk about how they like young people - new young Cool Britannia, how Tony Blair has Oasis round for tea. "I think it's bizarre that they could be so stupid as to think we could be taken in by some pop star who's in this year and probably out next year. This government is not doing young people any favours at all." They are attacking our right to education."

Oxford students were lobbying MPs at Westminster today when the National Union of Students was lobbying MPs including Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East.

Simon McDougall, 23, the president of Oxford University Student Union who was at Somerville College, would not have been able to come to Oxford if he had had to pay tuition fees. His dad, a firefighter, and mum, who worked in a small shop, could not afford to top up his grant.

He said: "I got by as I worked during term times. Nobody is happy with the situation. I feel deeply about it as I simply wouldn't be here. I would still be working in Iceland Frozen Food in Essex where I worked for a year to get money to come here."

Miss Makeda Bristol-Smith, 20, of St John's College, said: "I don't think I will be that much affected but it will be a disaster for the population as a whole. I just don't think that people will bother to go to university if they have to pay because they will end up with lots of debt.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.