DORSET students were praised in the fourth National Farmers' Union student of the year awards.

Sixteen students from Dorchester-based college Kingston Maurward battled it out to be crowned champion in a tense day of tasks.

The students, all on the college’s second year Level 3 Extended National Diploma in Agriculture, competed in livestock, machinery and estate skills tasks, a 50-question theory test, followed by an interview with a panel of judges including the NFU’s Rupert Rees and C&O Tractors’ Matthew Holland.

Georgie Cossins, 25, from Blandford won and said she was delighted, adding: “It was a complete shock to win.

“I think the reason was because of the extracurricular things I’ve done during the course. I’m so pleased - it feels like this award is in recognition of all my hard work.”

Kingston Maurward College Principal, Clare Davison, said: “This is a great achievement and the students’ success is a real accomplishment for the College.”