A MIDDLESEX university student was not turned away from hospital by police after being injured in the student protests, an investigation has found.

Alfie Meadows, 20, suffered head injuries when the December 9 demonstration against the rise in tuition fees turned violent.

His mother later claimed police had objected to Mr Meadows being treated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital because injured officers had been taken there.

But a probe by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards today ruled officers had played no part in denying Mr Meadows access to hospital.

Commander Mark Simmons, head of the Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "This claim has been thoroughly investigated, and subsequently disproved.

"The investigation was carried out in line with the MPS commitment to ensure that anyone found to fall below the very highest standards of professional behaviour is dealt with appropriately.

"In the same way we would publicise if officers have been found to fall the below high standards required, it is only right that where allegations against police are disproven, we update on it."

The probe was launched in response to widespread media coverage, police said, but they added no official complaint had been lodged over this particular issue.

Mr Meadows, a philosophy student at Middlesex University, was allegedly struck over the head with a police truncheon during the protests, and suffered serious head injuries including bleeding on the brain.

He is now recovering at Charing Cross Hospital, and the alleged attack on him has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.