End of era for art college

The principal of Edinburgh Art College is to retire ahead of its expected merger with Edinburgh University.

Professor Ian Howard announced last night that he would step down, after a decade in the post, at the end of July next year to allow a new principal to take over the new college.He said: "I feel it is entirely appropriate that there should be an orderly and planned transition through which a new principal can take the college forward into a bright future."

The college says it was forced into the plan because of financial problems caused by falling property prices after a campus expansion.

If the merger wins approval from the Scottish Parliament, the new institution would begin from 1 August this year.