ASKHAM Bryan College welcomed the BBC TV's Countryfile team to its York campus this week.

The theme of the hour-long programme being filmed with presenter Anita Rani was "Countryfile's Inspirational Women" which will be broadcast on December 30.

The programme celebrates its thirtieth anniversary this year and regularly attracts about six million viewers.

Anita, who is originally from Bradford, has been involved in the programme since 2014.

She and the team spent a day filming on campus, getting an insight into the important roles female staff and students play in shaping rural life. As part of the programme, artist Sarah Yates who is a wildlife specialist, created a special mural for the college.

Catherine Dixon, the college's chief executive, said: “We are delighted to showcase our College and the amazing work of our staff and students in highlighting the important role of women in defining our countryside.

"Many of our most senior staff are women and we have many female students which demonstrates the massive contribution women make in shaping the future of our rural communities.

“Best agricultural practice is vital in securing food production, sustainability and animal welfare. We are training the farmers of the future who require strong technical and IT skills, extensive knowledge, and the ability to plan meticulously.

"We aim to ensure that opportunities to work in and shape our rural communities are available to all, irrespective of their background. Championing the incredible contributions that women make to the countryside should be celebrated and I do hope the programme inspires more young people to think about a career in the rural sector and get in touch!”

The college specialises in full and part-time rurally based courses, from diploma level through to degrees. It has about 5,000 students across its centres in the North of England with the main campus being at York.