PERSHORE welcomed a distinguished guest with a visit by the Duke of Gloucester.

The Duke’s first stop in the town yesterday was the wetlands project at Avon Meadows where he was greeted by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Angela Brinton and Wychavon District Council’s heritage officer Jim Burgin.

The Duke met members of the Friends of Avon Meadows, town councillors including former town mayors Chris Parsons and John Grantham and students from Pershore Horticultural College.

This week, Wychavon District Council secured a grant of £230,000 to improve Avon Meadows.

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant will be used on a three-year project starting next year to attract more volunteers from schools and the community. It will fund new footpaths and improve access for disabled visitors and families with pushchairs.

The project will also aim to be more interactive for younger people and more informative, using signs and quick response codes to scan in to mobile phones, which will reveal adventure trails and information.

Jim Burgin, heritage manager for Wychavon District Council, said: “The Duke showed a real interest and it’s great to have his support.

“It’s wonderful to get the grant and to be spending it in a way that will not only help the community but the local environment as well.”

After a walk around the wetlands, the Duke then visited Pershore’s Cherry Orchard First School where pupils helped him plant an elm tree in the school grounds. Headteacher Sarah Bitcon said the students were excited to meet the royal visitor.

He later moved on to Evesham where he visited the Roundabout charity based at Blackminster Business Park, which recycles and reuses furniture, as well as the award-winning factory at Kanes Foods.

The last stop on the tour was the new Pebworth Fire Station, where the Duke met Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates and unveiled a plaque.