PRINCE Charles is about to give Preston's Centenary Mill the Royal Seal of Approval.

He sent a team of experts to Preston on Tuesday to tour the mill to take a look at the council's multi-million pound scheme to transform it into an international fashion centre..

And it was hinted that, if the Prince's backing is secured, the town could be treated to a royal visit.

A party from the Prince's Trust's Business in the Community's Regeneration Through Heritage met with town hall officials to discuss a possible partnership.

And they were impressed with what they saw. Project manager Fred Taggart said: "It's on our list of potential projects, but it is one of the more impressive we have seen.

"We are looking for about half a dozen projects and this is doing very well."

He added that the team was in close contact with His Royal Highness and said the prince had been briefed on the Centenary Mill project, based in New Hall Lane.

"And he loves visiting projects that he has an association with," Mr Taggart said with a smile. Now officials will have to wait a month for the prince's final decision.

The £11.5 million plan to create a fashion centre in the Victorian mill building, known as Horrockses, is considered the flagship project in Preston Council's £17 million bid for Single Regeneration Budget cash.

They will know in December if the money, which will be part of the £50 million regeneration of Deepdale, has been granted.

At present around 3,000 people are employed in the mill, mainly making denim jeans. Together they make almost 50 per cent of the UK's jeans production.

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