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The Co-operative has pledged to donate £10,000 worth of stock to locked-down students.

The Manchester-headquartered retailer has teamed up with student discount platform TOTUM and student unions to support an estimated 3,000 students across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ who have been told to self isolate.

It comes after around 1,500 students at Manchester Metropolitan University were told last week .

Co-op said stock will be used to ensure those living in the worst affected areas - including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford and Swansea - still have access to essentials.

Chris Whitfield, chief operating officer at Co-op Food, said: “It’s important we pull together to support our student communities during these difficult times and we want to help ease the current situation by ensuring that students under lockdown are kept well stocked up with groceries and essentials.

“We’re delighted that our long-standing relationship with TOTUM and the National Union of Students has enabled us to get help to those most in need, as we play our part in feeding the nation.”

Local student unions will be able to pick up basics from their local Co-op and distribute it to those students most in need, Co-op said.

Meanwhile students in some major cities across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ could receive their shopping within two hours of placing their order, if ordering online or through Deliveroo.