STUDENTS at Pershore College have been reassured about their future as a merger approaches.

Ioan Morgan and Louise Sanderson, from Warwickshire College, spent more than an hour answering questions from Pershore students about the two colleges merging on August 1.

Pershore's Holme Lacy campus will merge with Herefordshire College of Technology from the same date after governors voted in favour of the plans.

The mergers have since been approved by the Learning and Skills Council and have been sent to the Secretary of State for final approval.

At the question and answer session, Pershore students raised a list of concerns about the merger, including courses, facilities, the student union and social events.

Mr Morgan, Warwickshire College president, said: "Any merger we have been involved in in the past has led to increased facilities for students and a better learning environment."

He promised an independent campus and improved curriculum for Pershore. "The best mergers are largely invisible to students. If you see anything different it should be an enhancement, you should not experience disruption and there should be a reduction in bureaucracy," he said.

Tracy Sallis, Pershore Student Union president, said: "I think it went well. It's answered all of our concerns and we're pleased with what's going on."