Scientists from Lancaster University's Environment Centre and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have donated specialist equipment to help in the global fight against Covid-19.

The kit, commonly used in Lancaster to identify viruses in armyworms, is now being put to work to help the NHS test its frontline workers for coronavirus by analysing DNA samples.

The military collected the equipment from campus and delivered it to scientists based in Milton Keynes, analysing swabs in order to identify the Covid-19 genome.

Professor Phil Barker, Director of the Environment Centre at Lancaster University said: "Alongside other universities right across the nation, we are delighted to be playing our part to help in this mammoth effort.

"All colleagues at Lancaster send our deepest best wishes along with our equipment to fellow scientists doing crucial testing work in Milton Keynes, and to those further afield working to combat Covid-19."