STUDENTS and staff at the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside campus are throwing lifelines to struggling communities threatened by coronavirus.

Campus director, Professor Lois Mansfield, said in these extraordinary times there was a big need to pull together and pay back some of the help and support local people had given them.

“We are determined to do our bit and are particularly grateful to (TV broadcaster) Melvyn Bragg, who agreed to donate his fee from a recent talk to North Lakes Foodbank, which has fed over 6,200 people in the last year," she said.

“Our students have also helped distribute leaflets across Ambleside offering to help with groceries, prescriptions, welfare phone calls, or whatever else might be needed as people become more isolated in their homes.

“We have always been made to feel very welcome and part of the community and this is our chance to give something back”.