STUDENTS enrolling at Bishop Burton College will be welcomed with new state-of-the art technology when they start in September.

The agricultural students will be able to gather information and data using a new £30,000 drone thanks to the college's partnership with Agrii, which has based its crop technology centre at the college.

Helen Martin, agricultural course manager at the college, said the camera will be linked up to a screen so that students can see what is happening in all corners of a field.

She said: "Imagine a flying spider carrying a camera underneath. The drone is very much the next big thing in farming and we feel very lucky to be able to have the use of one.

"It's ideal for checking sheep on the side of a mountain or keeping an extra eye on large herds of animals. We will also be looking at how the drone can be developed for livestock farming."

Industry experts have said they believe drones will play a key role in the management of food production in the future, helping agronomists and farmers spot pests and diseases, as well as estimating crop yields.

The college has also been working on building up its commercial beef enterprise with its herd of pedigree Hereford cattle.

To find out more about the college, visit bishopburton.ac.uk