STUDENTS gathered in St Albans City centre on Saturday to voice their anger at cuts to education budgets and rising tuition fees.

The St Albans Student Coalition of Resistance group, which is holding a public meeting at Trinity Church Hall on Thursday, handed out leaflets to passers by and encouraged them to help break the ruling national coalition in the forthcoming local elections.

Sixth form student Megan De Meo, who is helping to organise the meeting, said students and even school pupils were at the forefront of modern political protest. She explained: “It is them that are being hit hardest by these cuts so obviously they want to stand up for themselves.”

Speaking just days after the University of Hertfordshire voted to charge fees of up to £8,500 a year, she added: “The Government says that most universities will be charging around £6,000 a year but when you look at how much they have cut education funding by, the universities have not been left with much choice.

“I think that a lot of people before who have never been politically active before will be supporting us.”

Thursday’s meeting will be held from 7pm at the hall, on the corner of Victoria Street and St Albans City Station.