THE newest residents of an agricultural college are settling into their accommodation.

Askham Bryan College's £700,000 Equestrian Centre is now home to 22 horses and ponies.

Students have the option of bringing their horses with them to the York college for the first time, so studying the practical side of their courses can be done on site.

The centre was opened in the summer by Christopher Bartle, of the Yorkshire Riding Centre.

As well as stabling, it includes indoor and outdoor schools, lecture rooms, demonstration areas and support facilities such as feed and tack rooms, washing and clipping boxes, student locker-rooms, offices and toilets. A cross-country track will soon be developed.

Equine department leader Helen Evans said: "The college has had a strong commitment to equine studies for a number of years. Having state-of-the-art facilities on site is a major benefit to our students -it has proved so popular that our stabling is currently over-subscribed."

Among the first to take advantage of the accommodation were Nicola Dunn, of Morley, Leeds, with Paddy, her five-year-old liver chestnut gelding, and Fiona McManus, of Stockton with Wellington, her chestnut gelding.