Andy Burnham has said he is considering a legal challenge against England's exams regulator after Greater Manchester hit by the "unfair" A-level results process.

The mayor of Greater Manchester said “dismay” had been expressed by college principals and head teachers in his area, adding students have experienced a “significant downgrading” of marks compared to previous years.

He added: “But worse, I heard stories of young people, who have already suffered a terrible year, having yet another injustice done to them.

“One college head spoke of 1,600 students being marked down and just 10 being marked up. Another spoke of young people being given a fail for exams they didn’t even have the opportunity to sit.”

Mr Burnham said he believes the system used to mark A-levels is “inherently biased” against larger educational institutions, adding: “Given that a higher proportion of students from Greater Manchester attend such institutions than in other parts of the country, I am concerned that the marking system has been unfairly discriminatory against young people here, in part due to the institutions they attend.”

He went on: “I am considering all options to challenge this unfair process, including a legal challenge against the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.”