More and more students are signing up to Sugar Daddy dating websites to pay for tuition fees and earn some extra cash. Reporter JAMIE MICKLETHWAITE visited Goldsmiths University where 79 students signed up last year.

Students in south-east London are offering their services to "sugar daddies" in order to pay for their tuition fees.

Goldsmiths University students are in the top 20 in the UK for signing up to a sleazy dating website called sugardaddie.com.

The site describes itself as a high quality dating site for successful men who have financial security and confidence and attractive single women.

Punters pay up to £3,000 a year for the company and companionship of attractive ladies who can then "enjoy the fruits that great living has to offer".

Nearly 80 students from Goldsmiths signed up last year and founder, Brandon Wade, told student newspaper The Tab 1.4 million people on his website are students.

Goldsmiths anthropology student Tommy Richards, 20, living in North London is a member of a different sugar daddy website, where men meet men.

He said: "I signed up when I first moved to London in the summer.

"It's an easy way to make money and have a nice quality life without having to work a 9-5 job.

"There's no pressure to do anything sexual, that's not what it's about.

"It's more about companionship, I often just get calls from people wanting a chat."

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The main opinion from students at Goldsmiths was they did not dissaprove of people signing up to sugar daddy websites but it was not something that they would want to do.

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Drama student Evie Holdcroft, 20, of Amersha, Road in New Cross said: "Good for them, as long as it's safe because I don't like the thought of men being able to choose from women on a website.

"I'm not against it but I wouldn't do it personally."

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Drama student Lily Matthews, 22, of Amersham Road in New Cross said: "It's not a good thing, obviously it's difficult that students are in that kind of situation and living in London takes its toll on your money.

"If people want to do it then I've got nothing wrong with that, it's just a bit depressing that students are having to do that type of thing for money.

"I'm all for it but they shouldn't have to do it."

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Ruby Clark, 22, of Sydenham Road studies anthropology and sociology.

She said: "It's not something that I've considered but I do know three people who have signed up.

"They said you get to go to really nice places, fancy restaurants and you get bought things.

"I'm not surprised that Goldsmiths is in the top 20, on the one hand, our feminist society is very active but at the same time we're very open-minded."

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Anthropology and sociology student, Lily Manning, 20, of Camberwell said: "If it's just for events and for company then I think it's fine, there are lots of lonely people in the world."

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Youth and community development student Arthurt Hawksworth, 22, of Barrydale Road in News Cross took a more light-hearted approach to the news.

He said: "I think it's stupid but then again I don't think I'd say no if there was an older attractive woman around."