REASEHEATH College has announced its long-standing principal is leaving after 17 years in charge of the top-rated institute.

Vic Croxson is taking early retirement at Easter after leading Reaseheath to becoming the top land-based college in the country in last year's Ofsted report.

He said: "It has been a privilege to be principal at Reaseheath. I have been fortunate to have led such a responsive team of staff through a period in which great changes have been possible.

"I have also appreciated the enormous support I have received from the college board and the industries which the college serves.

"This has enabled me to continue to be proud of what is at the heart of what we do - helping people learn."

During his reign student numbers have risen from 1,700 in four subject areas to 6,000 in 17 subjects.

Staff levels have shot up from 130 to 300 and the level of funding has soared to nearly £9 million from £2.4 million.

The college has become a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Food Chain Technology, providing specialist learning centres for skills within agriculture, dairy and food processing industries.

Mr Croxson will be continuing on in his current roles throughout the county and nationally, after being appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire earlier this year.

He is also vice chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, deputy chairman of the Cheshire Rural Recovery Task Force, senior vice president of the Rotary Club of Nantwich and vice president of the Cheshire Federation of Young Farmers Club.

On top of this, he is a member of various national and local committees of the Learning and Skills Council and Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for land-based industries.

He has also been selected as a consultant for the Department for Education and Skills' New Standards Unit.