STUDENTS from the University of Cumbria have been left devastated after a once-in-a-lifetime trip to The Gambia has been cancelled because of political unrest in the African state.

Members of the Carlisle-based zoology course were due to fly out to the country on Saturday to begin a conservation and research programme. But following advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the group, made up of 13 students and two staff, have had to pull out of the trip because of safety fears.

The trip would've been the 39th visit to The Gambia for Dr Roy Armstrong, course leader.

He said that everyone associated with the course was disappointed they could no longer.

"This kind of trip changes lives," he said.

"We know from feedback they say it's the best thing they've ever done.

"We can teach about conservation in the classroom but when they get out into the field that makes it more alive."

A 90-day state of emergency has been declared in The Gambia, where political deadlock has led to a "high" risk of military intervention and civil disturbance.

Thousands of foreign holidaymakers are being flown back home after it emerged that the international airport in the capital Banjul could be closed "at short notice", according to the travel advice.

The Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh, has refused to hand over power after losing an election and on Tuesday banned "acts of disobedience" while urging security forces to maintain order.

A group of west African nations has threatened to take military action if Mr Jammeh does not cede power to his successor, Adama Barrow, this week.

The circumstances have put a halt to students' trip which would have seen them travel around some beauty spots containing a rich variety of animal habitats.

They would've then spent time carrying out a research project on a particular species they were interested in.

In the past students from the university have been involved in capturing images of species previously believed to be extinct.

A group from the university, including when the course was ran by the University of Central Lancashire, has travelled to The Gambia for the last 12 years.

Dr Armstrong added: "It has been postponed but even if we can't go to The Gambia again soon we will find somewhere else to do it.

"But we are never going to jeopardise people's safety."