Leading scientists outlined their reasons for wanting to stay in the European Union to a visiting MEP.

Conservative MEP Vicky Ford visited the world's oldest agricultural research centre at Rothamsted in Harpenden last week.

More than 200 scientists work at the centre on the cutting edge of crop science and biotechnology.

Director and chief executive of Rothamsted Research Professor Achim Dobermann said it benefited from EU grants, and needed ways to collaborate in international research projects and have access to staff through easy movement of people across borders.

He said: "The sustainability, food security and nutrition challenges we are facing are global. Providing solutions for those challenges requires coordinated international efforts.

"Science can only thrive through collaborative endeavours that enable sharing if know-how, data and resources.

"Remaining in the EU and working towards even more efficient ways of collaboration will greatly benefit science and innovation and thus also agricultural businesses and consumers in the UK."

Mrs Ford was the UK lead negotiator on Europe's £70 billion fund for research, known as the Horizon 2020 program. During the five-year negotiations she worked with Rothamsted and other organisations across Britain to prioritise areas like plant science, medical research and transport.

Mrs Ford said: "Science and research is key to driving innovation and economic growth and jobs, as well as to solving some of our biggest problems such as how to grow new crops that can adapt to developing disease and drought. It is vital that our scientists in Britain can work easily with others all across the world and that we do not walk away from European neighbours in this referendum."