CROWDS of cheering pupils greeted a royal visitor to Rossendale as the Earl of Wessex opened a new £1m sports hall at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

Prince Edward chatted to several pupils who welcomed him to the school, just three days after his brother Prince Charles visited Burnley and Nelson.

During the two-hour visit, the first Royal visit to Rossendale in more than 10 years, he watched pupils demonstrating their dance, netball and football skills. He stopped to speak to sixth form student Oliver Beckier, 16 of Bacup. Oliver said: "I didn't think he was going to stop and speak to us, but he did and he was very posh but he seemed really down to earth. He was asking us about school and if we liked it. He seemed really interested."

Also among the guests were the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, police Chief Superintendent Jerry Graham and The Mayor of Rossendale, Coun Jeff Cheetham and his wife Anne. The Mayor said: "He was a very nice chap. He said he was delighted to be here as he had not been to this part of Lancashire before."

Head teacher Marc Morris made a thank you speech and said: "This has been a dream for a decade.

"Today that dream has finally come true. It wouldn't have happened without the support of school governors, parents, pupils past and present, local companies and charitable trusts.

"Thanks go out to all those who have helped us to raise £950,000."end of November."

The Earl of Wessex formally opened the sports hall and unveiled a plaque. He said: "I would like to add my thanks and congratulations to so many people who have helped make this possible.

"Ten years seemed like an awful long time but I did go to one school which had been waiting 60 years, so to put it into context you have done very well.

"I am here 20 days early but who's counting?"

As part of the whistle-stop visit, he also went to kitchen and bedroom company J and J Ormerod in Stacksteads to unveil a half a million pound cutting machine.

He was met by company chairman Allan Greenhalgh and joint managing director Stephen Greehalgh.

Stephen said: "We were delighted and excited by the prospect of the Prince's visit here. He seemed very impressed in how local we were as we employ a lot of people who live in the area."

His father Allan added: "I said we would offer him a discount on a new kitchen if he wanted one and he said I'm sure you will!"

He then went to Jacobson's footwear in Rawtenstall before completing his tour of the Valley by visiting First Business Support, also in Rawtenstall, to hand out long service awards to staff.