The library of songs available for downloading at the iTunes website has been significantly enhanced by the news that Apple has agreed terms to collaborate with European independent music labels, Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2.

The link-ups will provide iPod owners in the UK, France and Germany with tens of thousands of additional tunes to download, according to technology website Synthtopia.

“We’re thrilled to add three of Europe’s largest indie labels to our iTunes Music Store in the UK, France and Germany,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.

“We welcome Beggars, Sanctuary and V2 to the iTunes family, and plan to add many more independent labels soon.”

The arrival of the three record labels will herald profitable downloading figures for a number of acts and artists who were previously unattainable on iPod music players.

Basement Jaxx, the Crystal Method, Interpol, the Libertines, Morrissey, the Pixies, Prodigy, Stereophonics, Paul Weller, the White Stripes, Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols and the Datsuns will all become available as a result of the move.

Figures suggest an estimated 700,000 songs are currently available through the iTunes music store, a number which is expected to continue rising in the wake of similar collaborations in the near future.