Thousands of South Devon agricultural college students are protesting at plans to relocate them to Plymouth.

Plymouth University announced proposals last week to move faculties at Seale Hayne Agricultural College as part of a major shake-up.

It could mean the closure of the college near Newton Abbot which is regarded as one of the most respected in the country.

But students at Seale Hayne have put together a 4,000-signature petition to show their dismay and anger at the proposals.

The practical experience the students can get on the farm can't be obtained in Plymouth

Ian Johnson, National Farmers' Union

James Lewis, of Seale Hayne Students' Union, said: "Apparently you can teach farming in classrooms, but that's just not feasible.

"It's not a practical option because you don't have the hands-on facilities, like those at Seale Hayne, to adequately teach the subject."

University bosses believe that by concentrating resources at a new centralised site in Plymouth, they can improve research and teaching.

Adverse affect

But farmers' leaders believe the move could have an adverse long-term affect on their industry.

Ian Johnson, of the National Farmers' Union, said: he was "very concerned" about the situation and that he had sought a meeting with the university's vice-chancellor.

He said: "The practical experience the students can get on the farm can't be obtained in Plymouth.

"We are very worried about the future.

Very bleak

"Farming is already a very bleak industry to go into.

He added: "If the students can't get the hands-on experience and proper training, how are they going to go forward?"

University bosses have given assurances that the practical elements of agricultural courses will remain at Seale Hayne for the foreseeable future.

They said everything possible would be done to minimise disruption for students.

But they added that because most science courses were now based in Plymouth, it made sense to centralise facilities and expertise.

The students feel that separating the practical and theory parts of the courses are not feasible as the Plymouth and Seale Hayne campuses lie 30 miles apart.