A 19-year-old student, who has had a keen interest in birds since six years old, has secured a place in the birding world as a promising expert.

South Thames College A-level student David Campbell has landed a job with an ornithological consultant, which involves him travelling to Thetford to survey stone-curlews, a rare and largely nocturnal bird of open country.

Mr Campbell works part-time as rare bird news operator for website birdguides.com and in September will be spreading his wings at the University of Sussex where he has applied to study a degree in Ecology and Conservation.

Mr Campbell, from South Sutton said: “I’ve been fascinated by the natural world for as long as I can remember. I have a very vivid memory of a sparrowhawk flying over my playground when I was at infant school and it was definitely one of those life-defining moments. I was magnetised immediately and it’s inspired my degree choice all these years later.

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He is hoping his chosen career will make a positive difference to the planet.

He said: “I’m very aware how our way of life can have a really harmful impact so I’d like to give something back and have a career that will improve the natural environment.”