STUDENTS marching against the Government’s proposed university fees hike were “peaceful, quite noisy and good humoured”, according to police.

Officers monitoring the demonstration in Colchester yesterday said the operation had been successful and they had managed to keep disruption to a minimum.

Roads around the town centre were closed while students marched and re-opened again once the protesters had passed by.

Prior to the march, Chief Supt Alison Newcomb, commander for Essex Police’s Eastern Division, briefed 80 officers taking part in Operation Shirt Four.

The large number of public order-trained officers were drafted in from across the county in case there were similar numbers protesting to previous occasions.

She told the team: “We will allow the students their fundamental democratic right to protest, but at the same time to protect the rights of others who want to visit Colchester.

“We do need to accept a peaceful protest might be something that causes a level of disruption, and we will try and keep that to a minimum.”

Police were deployed on the streets by 10.30am in preparation for the start of the lunchtime protest.

The constabulary’s mounted unit, dog handlers and evidence gatherers were among the specially-trained officers involved.

After the event Ms Newcomb said: “The protest was a lot easier to manage because there was a much smaller number of students out. The numbers were lower than we were expecting and so they seemed to dwindle quicker.

“We thought there would be more because it was the last chance to get their message across before the Parliamentary vote.

“Maybe a lot of students were saving themselves to go to London rather than being out in Colchester.”

She said the police had a contingency plan in case there was a demonstration in town today – when MPs decide whether to raise tuition fees – but understood most students would be heading to London.

Some of those taking part in yesterday afternoon’s march threatened to occupy shops belonging to the Arcadia group, which is owned by Sir Philip Green.

In national protests, students have complained about the businessman’s tax affairs against the backdrop of education cuts.

In the end, no stores were occupied in Colchester. Instead, a group of about 50 protesters sat outside Topshop in Lion Walk Shopping Centre for 15 minutes, before returning to High Street.

PC Gary Nash, a public order tactical adviser, said: “It was very peaceful, but noisy. There was no hostility between the students and police. They had a very good rapport with us and some commented afterwards how well policed the event was.”

PC Ryan Whitear said: “I was at the initial protest and this one was a lot more peaceful. If the students want to carry on protesting, they should keep protesting in the manner they did today.”