PRINCE Charles made a 96-year-old woman's wish come true on his recent visit to Middleton in Teesdale.

Nellie Embrey, one of the village's oldest residents, had left her front door open all day in the hope the Prince might pay her a call. Her wish was granted when he took a detour from his schedule to pay her a visit.

Mrs Embrey said: "I was absolutely freezing, I was sat here with the door open all day but it really made my day when he came to see me.

"He talked to me about how long I've lived here and the caf I used to own."

The Prince of Wales was visiting Middleton in Teesdale to open Kirk Caryn House, a new building at the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services.

The Prince, who is president of Business in the Community, visited Utass in 2002 and was so impressed with its work he agreed to open the new building which provides a youth drop-in centre and offices.

As he toured the building, he met local youngsters, planted a tree, helped build a drystone wall and met trainees on a tractor-driving course.

Natasha McEwan, 17, said: "He was really normal when he talked to us and interested in what we had to say.

"It was just like talking to your grandad."

He also toured a farmers' market and met local farmers over a whisky in the Teesdale Hotel before turning on the town's Christmas lights.

Prince Charles said he would continue to do what he could to champion farmers and small farming families.

He said: "If other farming communities can learn something from what Utass is doing, it can only be to the benefit of the farming community."