The number of people inquiring about places at Brooksby Melton College has soared and applications are up by almost 230 per cent this year.

College staff have been working flat out dealing with calls, e-mails and letters from people keen to take up a course at the college's Melton, Brooksby and Spinney campuses.

It follows a series of summer career festivals.

Courses in animal care and performing arts and dance are among the most popular with record inquiries in horticulture and floristry, agriculture, construction and film and television production.

The college saw a rise in applications from 128 to 309 from June 2008 to June this year – traditionally its busiest month – with inquiries up from 121 to 512 in the same period.

Earlier this year, the college suffered the disappointment of hearing its ambitious £41m redevelopment plans will have to be put on hold after the Government announced spending cuts in building projects at 79 further education colleges.

It means plans to relocate the college's Asfordby Road campus alongside King Edward VII School, in Burton Road, and to redevelop its Brooksby Hall site will be delayed.

College principal and chief executive Chris Ball said: "The huge rise in both the number of enquiries and applications is fantastic news for the college and for its future."

The college, which has 2,300 students and offers 151 courses, has a few places left for the new term. To find out more, call 01664 855444.