The National Union of Students estimates that at least 50,000 students took part in protests in central London on Wednesday over plans to abolish the cap on tuition fees that universities can charge.

Karin Purshouse, chairman of the BMA medical students committee, said there was a large turnout of students from medical schools all around the country, some dressed in scrubs.

'Medicine already has a low intake of people from low-income families and this will only get worse. Medicine should be about peoples' ability not their ability to pay,' she said.

Violence flared sporadically during the day, with protesters occupying Conservative party headquarters in London's Millbank area and smashing a number of windows.

Ms Pearson said the BMA students 'would obviously not condone any violence'. 'There's 51,000 students and that's from a small minority,' she said.

The BMA fears the proposals could leave future doctors with debts of up to £70,000 after medical training.