Christian students have called upon churches to recognise that Jesus would oppose the arms trade.

The Student Christian Movement joined a national student day of action on Tuesday demanding that universities stop accepting funding from arms companies.

Campuses across the UK took part in the action, which focused on the conflict in Gaza. At York University, students held a vigil for victims of the arms trade with songs, poems and candles.

The National Coordinator of the Student Christian Movement, Hilary Topp, said university research departments should be properly funded by the Government instead of the military sector.

“The arms trade untold suffering around the world and should have no place in higher education,” she said.

In Lancaster, students took part in a talk on the arms trade held in a building funded by BAE Systems.

Lancaster University student Rachel McCarthy said: "If we reflect on the message of our faith, I believe we must stand up for what is right, and follow the path of love taught by Jesus, the Prince of Peace."

The day of action was coordinated by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade, which works to abolish the international arms trade.

It has led a lengthy campaign calling on universities to disinvest from arms companies and end the military sector funding of university research departments and students.

Universities with links to the arms trade include Oxford and University College London.