The mayor of the Italian city worst-hit by the coronavirus outbreak has brought his daughter home from Kent - as he thinks she will be safer.

Benedetta Gori has been studying for a masters in ethnobotany at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

But her father Giorgio was so concerned at how the UK government was handling the Covid-19 crisis that he rushed her back to Bergamo.

According to unofficial figures, more than 600 people diagnosed with coronavirus are believed to have died in the province.

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Gori says he also arranged for his younger daughter Angelica to return to Bergamo from a college in Taunton, Somerset.

He said: "When I saw what the English government was thinking about this problem, I decided to bring them back because I think that even if we are at the centre of the epidemic probably they are more secure here than in England, because I don't understand why the government didn't decide in time to protect their citizens."

Across Italy, 59,138 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed and 5,476 people have died.

An Instagram post by Benedetta in February

Disturbing footage has emerged in the past week from Bergamo's main hospital of wards rammed with beds filled with patients in great distress.

People in the region are describing the crisis as "the apocalypse".

The vast majority of those dying in the city are in the high-risk elderly group.

Mr Gori fears the true death total from coronavirus may be higher.

According to the mayor's office, 400 people died in Bergamo and neighbouring towns last week - four times the number who died in the same week in 2019. But only 91 of them had tested positive for the virus.

The University of Kent posted a statement on Friday saying students wanting to return home should do so soon - in case travel restrictions are put in place.

It said: "Students who are still with us on campus should be reassured that accommodation remains open.

"In line with the latest government requirements to prevent the spread of coronavirus, on-campus catering is being provided as a take-away service and the sports centre on the Canterbury campus is now closed.

"If you are planning to go home, given the increasing restrictions on people’s movements we strongly suggest you do this sooner than later."

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