A consultation has been launched into a proposed merger for North Shropshire College.

It was announced in December that a merger was being sought with Herefordshire and Ludlow College, with both parties agreeing to pursue it last month.

If successful the new Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College will formally launch on August 1.

Gillian Richards and Igor Andronov, chairs of NSC and Herefordshire and Ludlow College, respectively, said: "This new college will be able to thrive during the present challenging financial circumstances facing many colleges of further education, and build on much outstanding practice to ensure the very best education and training for every single student we serve.

"We believe it is imperative that the communities of north Shropshire be served by a resilient, ambitious and successful college - and that this proposal will deliver a bright future for our learners, staff, employers and wider community."

Herefordshire and Ludlow College is more than twice the size of NSC with 2,150 full-time students compared to NSC's 820, and generates an income of £18.6 million compared to NSC's £9m. It also has three principal campuses while NSC has its main bases in Oswestry and Walford, near Baschurch.

The merger comes following a tough year for NSC after it was rated as 'requiring improvement' by Ofsted and a proposed merger with Reesheath College in Nantwich fell through at the 11th hour.

The consultation document confirms current students at NSC will be able to complete their learning programmes as part of the newly-merged college.

Public events on the merger will take place on Tuesday, February 27 at the Walford Campus from 3.30pm to 4.15pm, and at the Oswestry Campus from 5.30pm to 6.15pm, with the consultation closing on Friday, March 16.