Three Police Injured In Student Clashes

Three police officers have been injured, one seriously, as violence breaks out among protesters marching on Westminster over plans to treble university fees.

One police officer is in hospital with serious neck injuries, and a mounted officer has suffered leg injuries after being thrown off his horse as the clashes in central London escalate.

Some of the protesters have been breaking down metal barriers around Parliament Square and surging onto the green towards Whitehall.

A handful have been seen climbing onto a statue of Winston Churchill and daubing it with graffiti and dozens have surrounded a large bonfire.

Flares, paint bombs, snooker balls and other missiles were seen being thrown towards police.

Sky's Tom Parmenter, at the scene, said: "We've got scenes of serious disorder, a real dangerous volatile situation.

"All around me there is very widespread disorder, a lot of paint missiles being chucked from the crowds.

"There's an awful lot of tension, a lot of anger in the air.

"Police are certainly battling to keep a lid on all this, but it is very difficult for them."

Police reinforcements are arriving and officers are now attempting to contain protesters inside Parliament Square.

At one stage, police horses were seen "charging" into crowds of protesters, Tom Parmenter said.

So far, seven people have been arrested and medics are treating six for injuries.

Police Supt Julia Pendry criticised protesters who were "intent on causing violent disorder" and said police had responded "proportionately" to the violence.

"The Metropolitan Police Service is extremely disappointed with the behaviour of protesters today," she said.

"It is absolutely obvious that people have come to London today intent on causing violent disorder, not coming to peacefully protest, and that can be proven by the number of people who have deviated from the agreed route."

She said protesters in the containment area would be allowed to leave along Whitehall if they agreed to go peacefully.

Sky's Mark White, at the scene, said there are fears there could be a "real security breach" if protesters get any closer to Parliament "with students running wild inside the Houses of Parliament".

Protesters in Parliament Square have been joined by a "surge" of demonstrators coming from Whitehall and have surrounded a group of officers, he said.

He said: "This is clearly a volatile and potentially dangerous situation unless they can get more officers down here to reinforce their numbers."

Demonstrators are angry at coalition proposals - being debated now in Parliament - that could see students being forced to pay up to £9,000 per year.

The word "No" has been daubed in large letters with red paint on the grass in Parliament Square.

Today's march in the capital began at University London Union, in Malet Street, at 12pm.

Demonstrators earlier streamed through Russell Square, Holborn, Kingsway, Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Admirals Arch, Horse Guards Road, Great George Street into Parliament Square hoping to get to Whitehall.

From there, the crowds dispersed along Victoria Embankment.

Just before 2pm, a smoke bomb or flare was thrown over the lines of police vans and filled the air with red smoke near the Carriage Gates entrance to Parliament.

The violence began to escalate from around 3pm.

Officials, activists and members of some of the country's biggest trade unions were expected to join the march.

Trade union banners are evident among the crowd including Unison, the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Public and Commercial Services union.