FOUR harvest mice have arrived at Cirencester College's Animal Management Centre.

The mice came from Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland Trust’s native species collection.

Staff and students are helping to support their breeding programme by providing a home for these tiny rodents who are the UK's smallest mammals, weighing just seven grams.

The group is housed in specialist accommodation at the animal centre, and students will be able to learn about their particular husbandry requirements and carry out research into their behaviour and health.

Students will also be able to find out more about the complex issues facing the species in the wild and in the future and hope in time to be able to manage a breeding group themselves.

The new additions will benefit the students from the Animal Management and Countryside Management courses as well as those studying the British Wildlife Conservation foundation degree and the new Animal Science foundation degrees (both taught in partnership with the RAU).

Lecturer Stephanie Masefield said: "We have been very keen to get this charismatic native mammal into our collection for a while and were delighted when an opportunity came to work with Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and house some mice from their breeding group."