Presidential candidate Nick Ward has been left red-faced by a gaffe which saw an image of a comprehensive school in Wales placed next to text on his website touting his state education.

His opponents in the EUSA presidential race have attacked his manipulation of class as a campaign tool.

"I, of course, apologise for such a silly mistake, especially if it confused anyone. Once it came to my attention it was quickly rectified,” said Mr Ward.

“I want to concentrate on the things that matter to students and can make a difference to their lives and this isn't one of them."

Mr Ward attended the Harris Academy in Dundee, whose alumni include firebrand socialist MP George Galloway.

He has been accused by rivals of attempting to mislead voters into thinking his school background is worse that it was. 

The image he used was of Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Gorseinon, South-West Wales, and appears as the fourth search result if one inputs ‘comprehensive school’ into the Google Images search-engine. The building was gutted by fire in 2006.

According to its online prospectus, Harris Academy boasts exam results that are “significantly above local and national averages.”

Fellow presidential candidate Harry Cole has led the attacks on Mr Ward.

"No-one would have cared where any of the candidates went to school until he made it an issue. If he's trying to make class an issue an issue then he's seriously running scared,” he said.

“Nick was willingly deceiving the electorate and deliberately bringing class into the election.

“To deliberately put up a picture of a bog-standard comprehensive school in Wales and pass it off [as his own] – you're abusing your voters."

Mr Cole attended the prestigious Tonbridge School, a private boarding school in Kent.