A Sussex University building has been occupied by more than 30 students in a growing wave of protests over the privatisation of education.

The Sussex Against Privatisation group reoccupied Bramber House conference centre on Tuesday evening after holding it for 54 days earlier this year.

A demonstration in support of their action was staged on campus yesterday and students in occupation at Birmingham University sent a solidarity video message.

A statement by the group said: "We are opposed to the marketisation of higher education, as we believe universities should be run in the interest of staff and students.

"Privatisation and marketisation have been forced upon students and staff due to the ideological government policy of austerity which is intentionally underfunding higher education.

"We call on students everywhere to fight back against these issues at their own universities and on a national level."

The occupation is also part of a long-running campaign to stop bosses flogging campus services to privateers, their statement explained.

Catering services have already been contracted out to Chartwells and further privatisations are planned next year.

The group said their sit-in was in solidarity with the occupation by Birmingham University students and university staff set to strike on December 3.

Birmingham University students celebrated a week in occupation yesterday despite a court issuing an injunction against their protest on Monday.

Speaking from the occupation, a spokesman said the mood was high in the face of possible eviction and arrest.

He told the Star: "One of the security guards let slip that bailiffs had come round to assess the barrier.

"A lot of people are guessing that they are going to be coming tomorrow morning but we don't know if it's just them trying to scare people out.

"We've got people coming in just to check it out and people are becoming more committeed, which is really good."

Famous left-wing philosopher Slovoj Zizek has been photographed holding a hand-written sign sending solidarity to the occupations at Sussex and Birmingham.