EAST Lancashire was still beaming with pride today after thousands of well-wishers greeted the Queen on her visit to the area.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh toured Blackburn and the Ribble Valley yesterday.

After almost a week of continuous rain, the sun shone on the Royal party as they toured the county as part of the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations.

The largest crowds gathered in Blackburn to welcome the Queen on her first-ever visit to the town centre.

She was wearing a vivid green hat with black trim and a vivid green overcoat, with a gold brooch, pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, black bag, black shoes and black gloves.

After arriving at Blackburn train station, the Queen got into the Royal Range Rover before making the short trip to Church Street.

There, the Queen and Prince Philip waved to the enthusiastic crowds, including army and sea cadets from across East Lancashire.

Many had banners and bright red balloons which had been supplied by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Outside the newly-refurbished Pavilions, the Queen unveiled a plaque to commemorate the start of the £45million regeneration of the shopping centre before meeting the crowds of people.

Among the well-wishers was American Bill Horn, who had travelled all the way from New Jersey, and perhaps the youngest Royal well-wisher, five-month-old Kiara Marshall from Accrington.

Mr Horn is currently on holiday in Garstang and said he couldn't resist a trip to meet the Queen.

He said: "I can't wait to drop it casually into conversation when I get back to the States that I bumped into the Queen when I was in England."

The Duke won cheers from the crowds after ignoring security guards to lift children over the barriers before ushering them towards the Queen with their bouquets.

Other children from Stanhill pre-school, Oswaldtwistle, chanted "We want the Queen" and frantically waved Union Jack flags to attract Her Majesty's attention.

And members from Blackburn with Darwen's Youth Forum and Blackburn with Darwen's youth MPs Matt Worden, 15, and Chloe Lincoln, 16, said they were thrilled to just be able to get a glimpse of Her Majesty.

However, Chloe added: "It is just a shame she didn't bring Prince Harry with him he is lovely!"

In the Ribble Valley, the party visited two farms that make up part of the Royals' Duchy of Lancaster estate.

They first went to Radholme Laund farm near Whitewell before heading to nearby Burholme farm where they met tenant farmers and saw how the estate is managed. They also visited the Puddleducks cafe in Dunsop Village before lunching at The Inn in Whitewell.

Outside Puddleducks mayor of the Ribble Valley, Coun Peter Ainsworth, presented Her Majesty with a glass plaque featuring Clitheroe Castle, made by Slaidburn artist Jenny Cork.

After meeting the owners of Puddleducks, Philip and Shirley Woodhead, she was introduced to the eldest resident in the village, 96-year-old Winnifred Fox.

At Radholme, the Royal couple were treated to a demonstration of a "cow crush" which sees a cow lifted onto its side to allow farmers to examine and trim their feet. It was an experience the Queen clearly enjoyed, telling farmer Mark Verity: "I hope the cow can get out of that alright."

At Burholme Farm, Paul Cruse, a cheesemaker at Billington's Holwood Cheese, met with the Queen.

He said: "The Queen talked about a variety of cheeses, how they were made and how many were produced. She wanted to know what made them pasteurised cheese.

"She was great, I was really nervous when she came in, but as soon as she started talking, it was like talking to a normal person.

"This visit has been really good for Lancashire. She certainly knows a lot about cheese.

"Prince Philip even tried a couple of our cheeses, creamy Lancashire and Bilsborrow Blue."

John Clarke, the gamekeeper at the farm, presented the Queen with a painting he had done of two pheasants on a wall at the estate. He said: "It has been absolutely fantastic. It is just such an honour to be chosen for her to come. I hope she was impressed."

The Queen ended her visit to the county with a five-course meal at The Inn at Whitewell.

She was welcomed by a group of local residents and youngsters from the 1st Pendle Scouts of Clitheroe before joining around 40 guests for a special meal prepared by head chef Jamie Cadman.

Restaurant supervisor Adele Brennand, 26, said the meal had gone well and the Queen seemed to enjoy the food.

She said: "We've been busy cleaning making everything pristine but we have got a good team here and it all went smoothly.

"We greeted her and said hello and then we had to just think of it as a normal day with the Queen as another customer.

"She seemed a very happy person because on TV she often keeps her face very straight.

"She ate everything and I was actually quite surprised at how much she ate. We got to taste the food so we can say we have eaten what the Queen's eaten."

During the trip, glass artist Jenny Cork, of Slaidburn, presented the Queen with a glass plaque of Clitheroe Castle to signify the £3million by refurbishment scheme at the castle.