A HAMPSHIRE college is preparing to celebrate its heritage stretching back 400 years.

Peter Symonds, a successful businessman, left money in his will in 1607 to establish a fund to help educate poor boys.

By the 1890s, the foundation had enough money to establish a secondary school for boys in Winchester which located to the present site in Owens Road in 1899.

Initially a grammar school, it became a sixth-form college in 1974 and has had two principals, Stuart Nicholls and since 1993, Neil Hopkins.

There are now more than 2,800 students on roll and it is acknowledged to be one of the best colleges in the country.

Many activities are being organised to mark the anniversary, including a lecture: In Search of Peter Symonds by Dr John Hare, who teaches history at the college.

There will also be a celebration ball, an arts festival and the opening of the new £4.2m Learning Resource Centre.

Another highlight will be the Founders Day procession and service at the cathedral on May 16.

Mr Hopkins said: "We are proud of our long association with Winchester and Hampshire and the education of young people. We hope that current and past students, staff, parents, colleagues from schools in the area and residents will join us at some of the events planned to mark this momentous anniversary."

A link with all the latest information about the anniversary celebrations has been set up on the college website at www.psc.ac.uk.