STUDENTS from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) swept the board in four categories at Lantra Scotland’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year awards.

Eight trainees and apprentices, from SRUC’s Oatridge and Barony campuses, walked away with both the winner and runner-up awards in the horticulture, trees and timber, land-based engineering and animal care categories, with a further five awards in other categories and one of them was Lochgelly's Lauryn Penman.

The awards ceremony, which was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dunblane Hydro on Thursday was hosted by Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian Jim Smith – a former student at SRUC’s Craibstone campus in Aberdeen.

Runner-up awards went to Calum Melrose (horticulture), Jack Burton (trees and timber), Lauryn Penman (equine), Louise Main (agriculture), Stuart Hynds (animal care) and William Muir (land-based engineering).

David Hopkins, Dean of SRUC’s Central Faculty, said: “It was a great evening of celebration for SRUC students, who excelled with seven outright winners and six runners-up, covering agriculture, horticulture, vet nursing, engineering, forestry and equine studies.

“Well done to all our students and also to our staff who have nominated and guided them.”