CROWDS flocked to Avenham for a visit by Prince Charles. Royal fans crowded into Oakham Court to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Wales, as he arrived as part of a whistle-stop tour of Lancashire.

He greeted his fans before popping into the Pukar Disability Resource Centre where he embroidered a flower with members of the centre.

Jotinder Singh, 23, from Fulwood, was behind a dhol -- a special Indian drum -- to welcome the Prince who took up one of the drumsticks to beat out a rhythm for Mr Singh as he played.

Jotinder said: "He was good. He was better than the usual people that I teach!

"It's a traditional Indian drum from the Punjab state of India. We just use it at joyous occasions. I didn't expect this at all."

As the prince arrived he first greeted Poppy Tanna, founder of the Pukar centre.

Poppy said: "We were really overwhelmed by his visit. He said we had done a wonderful job and was really proud of us. I was really pleased."

Children from Stoneygate Nursery and St Augustine's Primary School lined the prince's route into the Pukar centre.

Teenagers, Neetal Parekh, 18, and Jayshree Limbachia, 17, both from Preston, were among the royalwatchers.

Neetal said: "We are fans of the royal family. We saw the Queen when she came in August.

"Prince Charles does lots of good work for charities, which is always good. It's a good opportunity for Pukar."

Angela Hughes, 30, from Avenham, said: "I spoke to him twice and wished him a happy new year, he wished me one back. I asked him what Prince's William and Harry got for Christmas and he laughed.

"I was really surprised how friendly he was, he was fantastic. He definitely doesn't deserve all the bad Press he gets. He took a lot of time to talk to the people, especially the children."