STUDENT leaders in Oxford last night condemned violent protests which marred a demonstration over planned university fee increases in 2012.

On Wednesday, 50,000 protesters marched through the capital, including about 500 university students from Oxford.

David Barclay, president of the Oxford University Student Union, said: “We took coachloads of students from Oxford University.

“It was bigger than anyone expected, with protesters stretching from Trafalgar Square to miles away at Millbank.

“But we didn’t see any violence. All we saw were peaceful and respectful people making their point.”

At one point, about 2,000 protesters surrounded the Conservative Party headquarters in Millbank Tower, Westminster.

Windows were smashed and missiles thrown at police after a group of protesters broke away from the main demonstration.

Others broke into the building, climbing up to the roof.

But Mr Barclay said they had not been the actions of the majority of students.

He said: “It was unfortunate that people have been injured and there was violence. It means it is more important than ever to focus on the big issues and engage in discussions about the proposed fees.

“That is not done by smashing windows, but by talking about what will happen to our universities.”

Lucie Acraman, president of the Oxford Brookes Student Union, also took three coaches of students to London.

She said: “I did not even know there was any violence until a friend rang me because of what was being shown on the news.

“We had a really positive experience and it was fantastic to see so many people involved.”

Miss Acraman said she was “disappointed” by the rioting. She said: “I wish that had not happened because I think a march with 50,000 people would have made the news anyway.

“It is a shame the minority got their pictures in all the papers, but hopefully in a few days, that will have been forgotten and we can talk about the issues again.

“Their actions should not take away from the message being put across by the other 49,950 people.”

Meanwhile, it was not just current students who supported the protest.

Georgina Gibbs, 46, studied for a nursing degree at Oxford Brookes 13 years ago.

She said: “I was a single mum at the time and was offered a grant to put me through university. I just had to get out a £3,000 loan.”

“It gave me the chance to get a good education and without it, we’d be on the poverty line right now.”

But the mother-of-four from Headington said her children would now think twice about going to university.

She said: “What the government are doing will, in my opinion, cut out working class people in universities.”

Ms Gibbs said she didn’t agree with the violence in London, but did support their principles.

Nick Clegg yesterday pulled out of a visit to Oxford University next week. He had been due to address the Oxford Union, but pulled out due to “an unfortunate clash of diary commitments”.