A Scottish university has recalled students on exchange programmes in Hong Kong as civil unrest continues.

The University of Edinburgh has asked the 21 students affected to return to the UK as soon as they can.

Anti-government protests have been raging in Hong Kong for months, and students and other protesters have taken over major campuses, building barricades and stockpiling petrol bombs and other weapons.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong has suspended classes for the rest of the year, and others have asked students to switch to online learning.

A University of Edinburgh spokesman said: "The suspension of classes at educational institutions in Hong Kong has affected 21 Edinburgh students, who are currently on exchange there.

"We are therefore requesting that all of our students in Hong Kong return to the UK, at their earliest opportunity.

"We are providing advice and support to each affected student to ensure all are in a position to return to the UK."

It comes as  protesters who have barricaded themselves in the Chinese University of Hong Kong partially cleared a road they were blocking and demanded the government commit to holding local elections on November 24.

One lane of the Tolo Highway was cleared in both directions this morning, but the road remained closed after workers sent to clean up shattered glass and other remaining debris were threatened by protesters with bows and arrows and hard objects, authorities said.

Protesters said the road would be blocked again and warned of other unspecified consequences if the government didn't meet their demand within 24 hours.

Last month the University of Edinburgh recalled all nine of its students studying in Egypt, after two were detained by authorities.

They have since been released but the university advised all of its students in the country to return home, citing concerns for their safety.