THE Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to safeguard access to the Erasmus exchange scheme for students in Oxfordshire.

A petition has been launched that urges both the government and EU leaders to preserve Erasmus opportunities for UK students in the coming Brexit negotiations.

The latest figures show 1,594 students from Oxford have studied abroad using the Erasmus scheme since 2007. A

round 2,120 more students from the city were expected to benefit from Erasmus from now until 2020.

Young people going on the scheme benefit from free tuition and a monthly grant of around £240 to help with living costs. Separate schemes also give young people in vocational training the opportunity to do apprenticeships abroad.

Thousands of students starting university in September will be hoping for the chance to take part in this scheme.

Young people overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU.

It would be wrong to deprive them of this once in a lifetime opportunity to study or train abroad.

That is why the Lib Dems are calling on the government and EU leaders to confirm they will be able to access the Erasmus scheme whatever happens next.

ANDY GRAHAM Chipping Norton Road, Churchill