Police officers had to be called after university students staged a sit-in protest following the decision to close the School of Music.

Ten UEA students occupied the registry building on campus this afternoon (Tuesday).

The decision to close the music department was made by the university's council on Monday.

One of the 10 students inside the building, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We are doing this as the culmination of a long-running campaign against the closure of the school. We feel our reasonable demands have not been met and want more to be done to save the school.'

The Union of UEA Students said it fully supported the protest while it remained peaceful and legal, and condemned the decision to close the school.

A spokesman for the university said: 'While we understand that the university council's decision to close the School of Music after the graduation of all its current students has generated strong feelings, there is no excuse for behaviour which has resulted in injuries to three people, left a fourth badly shaken and caused damage to property. The police have been called.

'The council has made its decision and all our efforts now are going to ensure that music students can continue to enjoy a high quality education throughout the rest of their time here. We are putting plans in place to this end, and to promote music as a cultural activity at the university.'