AN East Lancashire Elvis fan today relived the moment he met the Rock 'n' Roll legend when 'The King' made his one and only visit to the UK.

Jeff Elvis Farmer enjoyed his chance to chat with Presley as the 25-year-old star mingled with the crowd during a refuelling stop at Prestwick International Airport, Scotland, on March 2, 1960.

Mr Farmer later received confirmation from Presley's wife Priscilla that he was the first person to officially register the visit.

Elvis stopped at the airport in a US military DC-7 and spent an hour signing autographs and speaking to fans in his olive green army uniform.

Mr Farmer, from Burnley, was there to greet him.

He said: "I run my own Elvis fan club and met him in 1960. It was the only time he ever set foot on UK soil but not many people actually know that he did.

Elvis Presley had spent 17 months with the 32nd tank regiment stationed at Bad Neuheim near Frankfurt, prior to making the scheduled stop off.

Mr Farmer, who now lives in Manchester, was also sent a certificate from Ayrshire tourist board to confirm that he was the "first person to register and record the visit on their files".

The international airport was given a Harp Rock plaque from Presley's original guitarist and drummer, Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana, who backed him from 1954 until his death in 1977.

Fans worldwide are this week paying tribute to Elvis as part of the 25th anniversary of his death.

There are programmes on radio and television devoted to the man and his music, the influence he had on groups such As the Beatles and Rolling Stones and his tragic decline into obesity and drug dependency.