Kent has become a leading county for land-based skills training after an "outstanding" report on Hadlow College.

A few years ago, the college was on the brink of closure following a string of poor reports. But the situation has been transformed, with Ofsted inspectors awarding the college 24 outstanding grades out of a possible 27. The remaining three grades were all "good."

The report makes it one of the best - if not the best - of the UK's 18 land-based colleges and among the best of all colleges in Kent.

Inspectors said: "Hadlow is an outstanding college which has made much progress since the previous inspection."

The inspection covered teaching, student experience, partnerships with businesses and others, financial performance and other issues.

Hadlow College's reputation has been soaring in recent years, with its land-based courses attracting many more students from across the country.

In a letter to senior Kent figures, Paul Hannan, the college principal, wrote: "We believe this is one of the highest Ofsted gradings of any type of college in the country. We are all extremely pleased with the assessment. We do realise that there are still many things to do and challenges ahead, but as such a high-performing specialist college, we believe that with your continued support we are well prepared to take Hadlow to even greater success in the next few years."

The college, which has other campuses in Canterbury and Mottingham, is working closely with Kent County Agricultural Society to develop a new events and education complex at the county showground, Detling.

It has built a reputation for working closely with business and recently opened a £450,000 Rural Regeneration Centre to boost enterprise and jobs in the countryside.