In what is claimed to be the first interactive use of mobile phone text messaging in a politics, the Conservatives have launched a campaign against university fees.

Conservative Future, the party's youth wing, is asking students to join a text message "petition" against top-up fees and also offers the chance to win £1,125 - the value of one year's up-front fees.

Students have been asked to text the message "No fees 4 [name of university]" to the party in return for entry into the prize draw.