Visitors to the Spirit of Christmas Fair in London have been greeted by Santa Claus warning them that the Fair's owners are involved in the arms trade.

As arms companies target university careers fairs, they may be hoping that the economic situation will encourage graduates to work for them. But a wave of student protests have broken out at graduate recruitment events across the UK, suggesting that students are more unwilling than ever to use their skills in the service of a trade that fuels war and perpetuates poverty.

A careers fair in Edinburgh was closed down last week after the organisers' decision to invite BAE Systems to the event triggered a protest by students.