DELIGHTED pupils and teachers at Blackburn's new-look high school will roll out the red carpet for a royal visitor, it was revealed today.

The Princess Royal is set to mark the official opening of St Wilfrid's CE High School, in Duckworth Street, on May 4.

The visit will mark the completion of a £13million rebuilding project, which has taken two-and-a-half years to complete.

Harold Gillibrand, school communications manager, said: "We are all absolutely honoured that the Princess Royal has agreed to come, and we are somewhat overwhelmed.

"All the staff, pupils and teachers will look forward to the opening immensely as it marks the beginning of a new era for the school."

The exact details of the visit are yet to be confirmed.

The Princess was last in East Lancashire in 2002 to open the new Accrington offices of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, of which she is president.

She has not visited Blackburn since a whistle-stop tour in June 1999, when she visited the Cathedral for the re-dedication of the Lantern Tower.

Peter Morgan, director of education and lifelong learning, said the visit marked a celebration of 21st century facilities for 21st century pupils.

He added: "I am delighted the Princess Royal has agreed to open St Wilfrid's, which is the first new secondary school to be built since Blackburn with Darwen local education authority came into existence.

"I hope it is the first of many, given our ambitious proposals under Building Schools for the Future, and the academy proposal for Darwen."