A London university has been banned from teaching overseas students, leaving more than 2,000 undergraduates potentially facing deportation.

London Metropolitan University has had its right to sponsor students from outside the EU revoked, and will no longer be allowed to authorise visas.

Ministers have concerns over issues such as whether or not students are working instead of attending courses.

A task force has been set up to help students affected by the decision.

The UK Border Agency said it had "failed to address serious and systemic failings" identified six months ago.

As well as stopping the university, which has 30,000 students in total, from accepting new applications, losing the licence could also affect thousands of existing overseas students at the university.

The National Union of Students (NUS) said it could mean more than 2,000 students being deported within 60 days unless they found another sponsor.

The university said it would be challenging UKBA's claims.

A task force has been set up to help students affected by the decision which means some 2,000 overseas, non-EU, students have 60 days to find an alternative institution to sponsor them or face deportation.

Announcing the move on Wednesday night, the UK Border Agency said London Metropolitan University had "failed to address serious and systemic failings" identified six months ago.

University and College Union warned that the move would have an impact on future recruitment of foreign students.

Its general secretary Sally Hunt said: "No matter how this is dressed up, the damaging message that the UK deports foreign students studying at UK universities will reach all corners of the globe."