HUNDREDS of young soldiers watched as the Duke of York formally opened a state-of-the-art college campus in the region yesterday.

Eight hundred camouflage caps were changed for berets with the College cap badge when Prince Andrew inspected the junior soldiers during their passing-in parade at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

A plaque was then unveiled by the Duke to mark the opening of the new campus. He was assisted by five of the college's top former students, who held the rank of Junior Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) before joining their regiments.

Among them was Lance Corporal Jon Wheatley, from Peterlee, County Durham, who was the first Junior RSM. He has since gained his first promotion stripe and is a member of 1 Battalion The Light Infantry.

During his speech, Prince Andrew praised the college facilities and congratulated the soldiers on completing their first six weeks of training.

He said: "Thanks to everybody who played a role on putting the college where it is today."

The college opened four years ago, replacing the former Army Apprenticeship College, and has been gradually rebuilt since. More than 1,000 junior soldiers graduate every year.