Parents fear their children will not be able to make even the most basic meals when they leave home for university this month.

Research revealed more than 40 per cent of those quizzed said their offspring cannot cook simple meals like a roast dinner or lasagne. And one in four said their youngsters would be clueless in how to prepare student staples like soup and pizza.

One in 16 even admitted their children would struggle to prepare a baked potato, beans on toast or a boiled egg.

The study, carried out by The Pizza Company, also revealed parents in Wales were most worried about their children’s culinary skills, with 49 per cent saying they would struggle with the most basic meals.

Parents in the North-East of England also took a dim view, with only four per cent saying they trusted their kids’ ability.