Two students at UEA in Norwich test positive for Covid-19

- Watch a full report from ITV News Anglia's Rob Setchell.

Two students at the University of East Anglia have tested positive for Covid-19.

The university said one lives on campus, the other off campus.

It said it was supporting the affected students and their households to self-isolate and working with NHS services and local teams to identify anyone who might have come into close contact with the individuals.

It comes as the university funds tests for all its staff and students who haven't got symptoms.

The scheme is an attempt to limit the 'silent spread' of the virus by those who are aysmptomatic and don't know they've got it - a mass-testing approach comparable to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ambitious 'moonshot' plan.

"In a way this was an attempt to almost fill the gap," said Prof Dylan Edwards from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

"It's to reassure people - our students, staff and the whole city - until we can get that moonshot in place and get more access to rapid testing."

The tests are analysed down the road at the Earlham Institute. They aim to issue results within 24 hours.

Director Neil Hall says national Covid testing has concentrated too much on overall capacity and not enough on where tests are most needed.

He said: "The national testing programme needs to think about being much more targeted.

"It needs to look at schools and universities as well as care homes and healthcare settings - to try and make sure they get on top of the virus where it's really important."

Today, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons students wouldn't be locked down away from their families for Christmas.

His critics say local testing schemes like the one at the UEA are examples of universities taking the lead where the Government has failed.