Princess Anne made a big impression with youngsters as her North-East tour continued yesterday.

On a crisp February morning she wisely chose to wear a heavy tweed suit and matching polo neck for the early visit to the Northern Counties School for the Deaf in Jesmond, Newcastle.

But when asked to open the school's new hydrotherapy pool - which is heated to a constant 35 degrees celsius - she happily chatted to poolside staff for ten minutes or more.

Despite the princess's warm clothing she remained cool during her chat with deputy head Lindy Walton.

The Princess watched as five children, with the aid of their carers, performed a synchronised display - a choreographed example of the method of treatment used at the school, which gives disabled youngsters genuine independence in the pool.

Mrs Walton said: "She was so involved in asking me questions about the pool that she didn't even notice the heat.

"She was very interested in the children and their special needs and was asking about cerebral palsy and deafness."

Northern Counties, which has 90 pupils aged three to 19, work with children who are deaf and have multiple disabilities.

The new pool cost £600,000 and includes three changing rooms, lifting and tracking equipment to lower youngsters into the water and light and sound effects.

Five-year-old Emily Wilson had earlier presented a posy of flowers to the Princess as she arrived at the school.