Schoolchildren as young as 14 are protesting over tuition fee hikes outside Vince Cable's Twickenham office today.

The placard-carrying youngsters are protesting over Government moves to more than treble university tuition fees to £9,000 per year.

Pupils told our reporter they were year 10 students from Orleans Park School, Twickenham.

Many are as young as 14.

The group were chanting "Shame on you for turning blue” in reference to the Liberal Democrat MP’s support for increases in tuition fees.

One police officer is standing guard at the MP's office.

Joe Rogers, 15, said: “I want to go to university so does everyone here but we can’t afford it.

“We just want to be heard.”

Charlie Pellow, 14, said: ”I want to get a job but I’m worried I won’t be able to afford univeristy.”

Although the pupils are at least three years away from going to university, 15-year-old Sophie Mann said they feared the cost of higher education would rise even more in the coming years.

She said: “We’re worried that when we go to university it’s going to be even worse.”

It is not known whether the youngsters have permission to be off school.

Their protest comes as police clash again today with student protesters at a national tuition fees demonstration in Westminster.

Dr Cable's office declined to comment on the local protest.

Nationwide children’s charity, Fair Play for Children, warned police to take special care with minors taking part in national demonstrations.

National secretary Jan Cosgrove said children had a right to "be heard on matters which affect them".

She added: “It cannot be acceptable that minors are subjected to a practice such as kettling, denial of toilet facilities, boxed in for hours without drinks etc.

"Children's rights and welfare organisations will be watching events carefully.

“The reputation of Government for fairness will be tested in many aspects on this matter."

Are you angry over tuition fees? Or are you at one of the protests? Email gholt@london.newsquest.co.uk or call the newsroom on 020 8744 4271.