Police in the Spanish city of Valencia have been accused of being heavy-handed in their treatment of student protesters.

Baton-wielding riot squads are said to have charged, beaten and arrested up to 21 demonstrators, some of them minors, during a rally against education budget cuts.

Similar skirmishes broke out in Valencia a week ago, where police defended themselves by claiming to have used proportionate physical force.

Valencia is the most indebted of Spain’s regions, which are making tough spending cuts that the government says are necessary to strengthen the economy.

The students, who are using networking sites to organise the protests, say they will continue until the government’s regional education minister resigns.