A GROUNDBREAKING cere-mony yesterday marked the launch of a multi-million pound project to unite two colleges.

The £6m development project will see the demolition of the current Askham Bryan College Centre, which will relocate on the same site to a new purpose-built two-storey extension of Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, east Cleveland.

The development also includes building an Animal Management Centre at the site, off Redcar Road.

Students at Prior Pursglove College will have the benefit of more modern classrooms and resource centre space, as well as extra communal facilities.

The project combines the expertise of both colleges, Askham Bryan being a specialist land-based college and Prior Pursglove a sixth-form college.

Stokesley architect DKS was asked to develop a campus masterplan to address the needs of students and local people.

When completed, the project will see a pedestrian-friendly campus with extensive bus and car parking on site, which will improve congestion issues for residents.

Contractor Clugston Construction is keen to develop student interest in the project by organising site visits and presentations.

Officials hope the merger will create more opportunities for students of both colleges by offering an extensive range of courses.

Professor Gareth Rees, principal of Askham Bryan College, said: "We see this as an exciting launch pad to ensure that the land-based skills gaps in the region are filled.

"We are delighted that we will now be able to offer a much wider range of land-based education in Tees Valley, including animal management courses in the new purpose-built facility."

Prior Pursglove College principal Stephen Whitehead said he was delighted that, after months of planning, the two colleges could look forward to impressive changes.

He said: "These developments will offer our students top quality facilities on one of the most attractive college campuses I know."