A TEENAGER who met Princess Diana on a visit to a community centre described the royal as a sweet and caring person'.

Princess Diana won the heart of the people of Nelson when she made her first royal visit to the town for 35 years in 1989.

Shazia Akhtar, of Clayton Street, Nelson, who was 14 when Princess Diana visited the Help the Aged Resources Centre, which later became the Pakistan Welfare Association.

She was picked from a group of school children to give flowers to Princess Diana.

Ms Akhtar said: "It was exciting and nerve-wracking but I did not really think wow'. I was so young I did not really appreciate it.

"She was a sweet and caring person, friendly and approachable and not uncomfortable talking to any one."

"When I heard about her death I was sad that this nice, caring person wasn't here any more."

Shazia was given two weeks' training to teach her how to curtsey when she met the princess.

She said: "I had training on how to curtsey and bow down. I had to put one knee down and then her flowers.

"I was really nervous so I did not want to do it. I just thought I need to get it over and done with.

"There were thousands of people lining the streets and I was by myself and very nervous.

"She got out of the car, came towards me and said thanks love'.

"She went inside the centre because she was there to see the elderly people, to see how it was run and the children's club."

Ms Akhtar's father Akhtar Ali, former vice-president of the welfare association, said he had to convince his daughter to go because she was nervous.

He said: "I told her you are a lucky girl when she refused to go and had to talk her round because it was an honour for her to be picked."

Princess Diana went on to visit the Ithaad Centre, in Cross Street and the town hall for lunch stopping to chat with people along the way.