WET and windy weather failed to stop a small group of dignitaries who gathered at Preston railway station to welcome Prince Charles.

Right on schedule and smartly dressed in a navy blue suit His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived on board a train aptly named Prince Henry.

He was greeted by Mayor of Preston Councillor Dick Evans and Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Charles Shuttleworth.

And he stopped to talk pleasantly to Railtrack and Virgin West Coast representatives including the station's Business Manager Jane Brammer.

She said: "He seemed very happy to be here and asked me how I was. I apologised to him for the bad weather."

And hundreds of umbrellas lined the streets as happy shoppers welcomed Prince Charles to town.

Young Lancashire Brass Band played God Bless the Prince of Wales as the smiling special guest stepped from his green Bentley on Fishergate.

After waving to the crowd he visited Marks and Spencer where he surprised shoppers by stopping and chatting to them.

Shocked Sarah Fay, 31, from Walmer Bridge, said: "It was really nice to see him, he was lovely. He asked me how I was going to get all my shopping home."

He then took time out to talk to pupils from Moor Park High School in Deepdale who have been involved in a project with the store to train the school's prefects.

The Prince, interested in the scheme as it is part of his Business in the Community initiative, got the thumbs up from the youngsters.

Head Girl Emma Thompson, 15, from Frenchwood, said: " He asked us what we'd been doing and what we'd learned. He was really friendly and although we were nervous he put us at ease."

Rizwan Jamal, 15, of Deepdale, said: "He wanted to know what we had been doing and was very nice - but he had a very firm handshake."

Teacher Fay Smith said: "The pupils all explained to the Prince what they've been doing. He encouraged them all and said they were all very mature.

"He really wanted to talk to the prefects because what they've been involved with ties in with his philosophies of Business in the Community."

Outside former fusilier Gryn Williams from Longton got his lucky moment when the Prince left the store.

The 70-year-old who fought in the WWII said: "He asked which battalion I was with, which is the Sixth Royal Welsh.

"We offered him our loyal greeting from the Parachute Regimental Association here in Preston."

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