COLCHESTER is bracing itself for fresh disruption by students protesting at university fees.

This Tuesday's demonstrations could be even bigger than last Wednesday's, when about 600 students from Essex schools and colleges marched through Colchester town centre to voice their opposition to planned rises in tuition fees.

Factions then held impromptu sit-down protests in the High Street and later on North Hill, forcing police to close much of the town centre to traffic for hours.

Organisers hope the second protest could be even bigger, with more than 940 signed up on one Facebook group to attend. However, pupils are being warned that they should be in lessons, not demonstrating.