Glasgow University has an active Conservative student group

The party said it had about 400 paid-up members across seven of the main Scottish universities.

The secretary of Glasgow University Conservative Association said students had lined up to join during a freshers' fair at the start of term.

Deputy Tory leader Murdo Fraser said it proved the Conservatives were a real alternative for young people.

He said this was underlined by figures that dated from before the election of David Cameron as UK party leader.

'Party resurgence'

"Students in Scotland today face all kinds of problems which previous generations have not had to deal with," said Mr Fraser.

"These figures show that the Conservatives are the party to solve these problems and we all look forward to working towards the 2007 elections to do just that."

Gordon Wilson, Glasgow University Tory secretary, said: "We are by far the most active political group in the university and there is a real feeling of resurgence throughout the party.

"This year's freshers' fair was amazing, we had people queuing up to join, which has never happened before.

"We registered 53 people on the first day and over 20 on the next, taking our accumulative total to just under 100."