The spectacular transformation of a 250-year-old walled garden into one of the North's biggest tourist attractions received the Royal seal of approval yesterday. Nigel Burton reports.

Walking around the grounds of Alnwick Castle in 1996, Lady Jane Percy, the Duchess of Northumberland, saw the potential for creating one of the region's most ambitious tourist projects.

She had just moved into the castle with her husband, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy.

The gardens had long since fallen into disrepair after years of neglect but the duchess, a 43-year-old mother of four, was determined to restore them to their former glory.

In fact, she resolved to do far more than that. Her dream was to see the old walled gardens transformed into nothing less than a "Versailles of the North."

It has taken six years and the talents of some of Europe's finest garden designers but yesterday her dream came true.

Now scores of rare species jostle for space alongside the waterfalls, pools, miniature canals and pavilions that have been built into a landscape of hedges and rose bushes. More than 65,000 shrubs and bushes have been planted across the 12-acre site, which boasts 25 different water features.

The £14 million project was officially opened by the Prince of Wales who became a patron of the scheme at its inception.

Charles visited Alnwick Garden to perform the ceremony for his friend. More than 2,000 invited guests gathered within the confines of the 250-year-old walls amid glorious weather to greet the Prince.

Among them was the TV gardener Charlie Dimmock who is making a BBC documentary about the ambitious project.

Charles chatted with the flame-haired TV presenter and told her he had followed the project with interest.

Afterwards she said: ''He said he has been following the garden since the idea was raised seven years ago.

''He has been encouraging Jane all the way through and he said he thinks it is fantastic to see what was once a derelict garden rejuvenated.''

Ms Dimmock added that she thought the gardens would boost tourism in Northumberland, which was hit last year by foot-and-mouth disease.

She said: ''It is great for this region, which has had a hard time for tourism and it is nice to see the region regenerating.''

A central feature of the garden is a huge cascade of water, complete with fountains believed to be the largest of its kind in this country. It took 150,000 man hours to complete and 7,260 gallons of water tumble down its 30 weirs every minute.

After the Prince officially opened the gardens jets of water shot six metres into the air as the crowd applauded.

Since the garden opened to the public in October last year, almost 250,000 visitors have been through its doors.

Charles had been due to perform the official opening in April this year but the ceremony was cancelled because of the Queen Mother's funeral.