MORE than 80 years of history as the North East’s leading land-based educational provider are being celebrated.

East Durham College’s Houghall campus in Durham, which originally opened in 1938 as the Durham County School of Agriculture, was founded as a place for young men and women to pursue a career in agriculture, offering courses such as horticulture and poultry-keeping.

The campus has expanded significantly and offers a range of vocational land-based courses and training for almost 1,000 students in subjects including floristry, small animal care, agriculture, dog grooming, horticulture, countryside management and tree surgery.

Suzanne Duncan, principal of East Durham College, said: “I am extremely proud of all of our hardworking students and staff who continue to make Houghall an excellent place to learn and work. We’re very excited to see what the next 80 years will bring.”

Houghall recently underwent a multi-million pound redevelopment with a new small animal care centre, equine centre, agricultural centre and extensive refurbishment to the college’s main entrance building.

The redevelopment is continuing with a new grain store and the building of new student accommodation and refurbishing the college’s student accommodation.