A drive to get more young people to start agricultural businesses in Oxfordshire has taken a major step forward.

A Fresh Start Academy is now up-and-running through Abingdon and Witney College, with the aim of providing training and mentoring across a variety of aspects of rural business management.

The academy was launched by Witney MP David Cameron at the Rural Skills Centre, at Common Leys Farm, in Hailey, near Witney, which is run by the college.

Kirsty Grey, 21, from Leafield, near Witney, was one of the first students to sign up for the new initiative.

She said: "I want to set up my own dog-grooming business. I hope the course will put me in touch with people who have lots of contacts which they will then be able to pass on to me."

The Fresh Start scheme is among the first in the country.

It will cater for about 15 students, aged between 15 and 38.

Some of the entrants will already be in farming, or an associated trade, and looking to move up the career ladder.

Others, meanwhile, will be established farmers thinking about developing their businesses.

Gavin Colborne, manager of Common Leys Farm, said: "We hope to have a group that can share ideas.

"We can also give them the advice they want.

"Then they can start their own rural businesses, which will be good for the local economy."

Mr Cameron said: "Farmers are growing older, while fewer younger people are coming into the industry.

"I hope this academy will encourage more people into rural businesses and farming."

Denis Chamberlain, chairman of the Fresh Start initiative, said: "The whole food chain really needs enthusiastic and ambitious new entrants determined to succeed in farming."

"Fresh Start provides a good route to better skills.”