THE Duke of Gloucester is in for a busy time when he makes an official visit to North Yorkshire later this month.

The Duke's duties, on March 20, will include the official opening of a first aid training centre for the St John Ambulance, in Thirsk.

The centre, on the Thirsk Industrial Park, has been built at a cost of £480,000 and is designed to expand first aid services across North Yorkshire and Teesside.

The Duke, who is Grand Prior of the order of St John, will spend 90 minutes at the centre, meeting those who work there and inspecting the facilities.

Later, still in Thirsk, he will head for the World of James Herriot centre, in Kirkgate.

It was opened almost two years ago as a tribute to local vet-turned author Alf Wight. The Duke will spend more than an hour there.

He will tour the centre and meet the writer's son and daughter, Jim Wight and Rosie Page