AGRICULTURAL student Lewis Steer from Chudleigh has won the use of a brand new Land Rover in a competition backed by Prince Charles.

He is one of five ‘inspiring’ young people in the UK who have secured the use of a top-of-the-range Land Rover Discovery Sports for a year.

The aim of the Prince’s Countryside Fund Land Rover bursary was to help develop the developing rural careers of those aged between 21 and 35 from England, Wales and Scotland.

Lewis, who is studying rural estate and land management at the Royal Agricultural University, also runs his own rare breed wool business – Lily Warne Wool, named after his great great grandmother.

Lewis takes sheared wool from his flock of rare breed Greyface Dartmoor sheep to a local mill where it is spun into yarn before returning to the farm.

His product is one of the few in the UK to be processed from ‘farm to yarn.’

He has been praised by competition organisers for his ‘entrepreneurial spirit and passion’ for agriculture which has led to some exciting business opportunities.

Lewis says he will use his new wheels for his day-to-day shepherding duties of moving the sheep between rented land and to access other farms to buy wool and skins through the co-operative he has established.

Other winners who bagged a Land Rover were from Guildford, Lancaster, Northumberland, Harleston and Carmarthen.