FOR the first time since the foot-and-mouth epidemic, Askham Bryan College Guisborough Centre is offering agricultural courses.

These include the National Certificate in Agriculture, along with a wide range of Open College Network courses, ranging from sheepbreeding to tractor electrical systems.

The centre holds an open day on July 1, when past, present and future students are welcome to attend and tutors will be on hand to discuss course contents and progression routes. On that day, the centre will support the Meningitis Trust with the sale of refreshments.

Students' work covering the whole curriculum will be on display and there will be taster sessions and demonstrations in skills such as silk painting and patchwork.

A plant sale will be held to raise awareness of the college's horticultural courses and there will be tours, taking in the grounds, workshops and the refurbished IT room.

The return of agricultural courses at the college means Trevor the Tractor, which has been standing, redundant, since the epidemic, will back in use.

Centre administrator Tracey Hart said: "He has had quite a miserable life over the last couple of years, so centre staff are keen to recruit for the agricultural courses, which will allow Trevor to be dusted down."

For more information about the courses available, contact Tracey Hart or Gillian Wood on 01287 633870.