Students at Askham Bryan College’s centre in Bradford have welcomed the arrival of eight former commercial laying hens to live in their brand new purpose-built residence.

It is a far cry from their old battery cages and it is hoped the hens will gain a new lease of life now they have moved into their spacious surroundings.

The hens are at the end of their commercial egg-laying life and the college is hoping that the change of environment will be a catalyst to ensure the ‘girls’ will begin to happily lay free range eggs as they scrape and forage in a more natural habitat. Leonie Hadland, a course manager at the college, based in Great Horton, said: “The staff and students are very excited about being able to give these hens the free- range life they deserve, it will be hard but rewarding work to rehabilitate them.”