STUDENTS sent a delivery of dirty washing to the Prime Minister's Sedgefield home - after accusing the Government of taking the shirts off their backs with proposed tuition fees.

Durham University students led a protest march through the city yesterday to demonstrate their opposition to proposed course fees. They say an annual increase in tuition fees, which could be about £3,000 a year, would be a barrier to education.

Students' Union president Ben Wood led the march from Palace Green, over Elvet Bridge and to the university library at the bottom of South Road. There, students took the shirts off their backs and waved them above their heads.

A group of protestors then set off in a minibus with a washing basket of shirts, labelled "dirty washing" to hand over at Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield home. Written on them were the students' objections and a letter outlining the union's opposition.

Mr Wood said: "There were about 600 to 700 on the march, which is really good considering it's three days before exams start and people are in their final days of revision."

The demonstration had been due to take place several weeks ago, but was postponed in respect for those involved in the Iraq war.