Scuffles break out and arrests made as thousands of students protest

Scuffles have broken out during a protest in London by thousands of students demanding free university education.

A small number of arrests were made after a small group of protesters threw paint outside the Home Office and another group attempted to push their way into the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) building, police said.

Scuffles broke out after a small number of smoke bombs and eggs were thrown at police outside BIS.

Crowds gathered for a rally outside University of London buildings in Bloomsbury before marching towards Parliament Square.

The protesters are calling for tuition fees to be scrapped, the return of maintenance grants and an end to student debt.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell addressed the students at the start of the march.