SPARSHOLT College’s Extended Diploma Agriculture students put their ploughing skills to the test in order to raise money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).

For 24 hours, the students ploughed non-stop in the College Ploughathon.

The event took place on the college farm and involved both muck spreading and ploughing.

One tractor/plough unit, two tractors and muck spreaders and a loader worked alongside each other, with each course member required to do a shift in the hot seat.

Machinery staff were able to provide the students with a number of helpful tips and reinforce the lessons learned throughout college and through work experience.

Students and staff were then able to present the money raised to their chosen charity.

Collecting the cheque on behalf of HIOWAA, June Leatheam, community and corporate fundraiser, said: “I would like to say thank you very much indeed to all the second year Agricultural students for raising the fantastic amount of £1,273 through their ploughathon event.

“We will certainly plough the money back into keeping the helicopter flying.

“The helicopter is called out many times per day, and these missions are often lifesaving, but this couldn’t happen without the support of people like these students, for which we are extremely grateful.”

Abby Parsons, senior practitioner for Agriculture, said: “We are really pleased how committed the students were to the challenge.”