Angry students are gathering outside a Hampshire college in a last ditch attempt to fight for its future.

Demonstrators gathered outside Totton College waving placards and banners.

It follows concerns about the future of the Calmore Road college, which is scrapping its A-level curriculum later this year.

Protestors included students, local residents and Green Party members.

As reported in the Daily Echo, 90 students halfway through their courses are being offered the choice of staying at the college and completing their studies or switching to another educational establishment in September.

Organiser Ed Caplen, who is studying GCSE science and maths, demanded politicians provide more educational funding.

He said: "The emotional impact has caused unnecessary stress for students so close to their exams and they have only two weeks to find another college."

Praising fellow supporters, he said: "It's a really good turnout and people have shown their spirit and hopefully it's a rallying cry to help save Totton College."

Louisa King, 18, a BTEC student from Romsey, said: "It's a big shame because there are all these students who enjoy the courses. People are worrying a lot because they have established friends here.

"I feel worse for the staff that are losing their jobs and have been given short term notice to find new jobs."

She said college's should be given more freedom to use their funding where it is needed to prevent further financial problems.

Jessica Doe, 18, a BTEC media production student said: "This has all happened right before exams and the extra Ofsted inspection has made it even more stressful.

"If this had been announced at the start of the year people would have had more time."

Problems at the college are believed to have started last summer.

The number of students joining the campus was lower than expected, resulting in a £600,000 cut in the money it received from the Education Funding Agency.

Ofsted inspectors are today concluding a four day inspection there.

The college hopes to join forces with another organisation in a bid to secure its future but suffered a major blow earlier this year when a planned merger with Eastleigh College fell through.

Four full-time equivalent posts at Totton are likely to be lost.

The college is currently in talks with the National Association for Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NACRO), which educates ex convicts following their release from prison.

Liberal Democrat council candidate Cllr David Harrison has launched a petition in protest of any deal with NACRO.

New Forest East Labour electoral candidate Cllr Andrew Pope has launched a petition to save the college.