STAFF at Hopwood Hall College have welcomed the latest intake of students into luxury accommodation with features including somewhere to hide, store food and sleep.

Chipmunks from the college’s animal care department have now moved into a five-star pen, designed by animal care tutor Janice Godwin.

A class of Year 11 students from Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College has been studying a course in building craft occupation at the college and decided to build the enclosure for the creatures.

The chipmunks will be cared for by college students wanting to pursue a career in veterinary care.

Under the guidance of Hopwood Hall construction lecturer Howard Jones, the students built climbing frames, nesting boxes and filled the enclosure with drain pipes, ladder rungs and bark chipping to keep the chipmunks busy.

Mr Jones said: "According to our animal care tutors, a bored chipmunk is a naughty chipmunk, so the students thought they could give them a bit of light entertainment and provide them with a stimulating and exciting environment to live in.

"The pupils worked very hard out in the cold throughout the winter months but the project has given them, and of course the creatures themselves, great enjoyment."

Students from Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College visited the enclosure and were able to go inside the pen and show the animals around their new abode.

Pupil Michael Tattersall said: "It was great to see the chipmunks enjoying themselves, I couldn’t believe how cheeky they are – they tried to nibble our ears off."