Up to £25m will be invested to modernise Witney's main college campus -- on top of £1.5m that is being spent to create a new rural skills centre.

Abingdon and Witney College is closer to realising its dream of turning the Witney campus into a state-of-the-art facility. It is considering whether to redevelop the Holloway Road site, or create a new campus elsewhere in the town.

The college is preparing to seek planning permission from West Oxfordshire District Council for the rural skills centre -- which will offer courses in horticulture, animal care, equine studies and conservation. It is due to open in September next year. Steve Billcliffe, the director of development and marketing, said staff were hoping for a decision by the end of June.

The rural skills centre will be built at the college's equine studies centre at Common Leys Farm, in Hailey, near Witney.