CROWDS lined the Sands in Appleby today when HRH Prince Charles visited to meet flood victims and learn about the town's recovery.

The visit was part of a whistle-stop tour of areas in Cumbria which were hit by the floods caused by Storm Desmond earlier this month and also saw him visit Carlisle.

Arriving by helicopter, which landed in Appleby Grammar School playing fields, he was transported down to the Sands where homes and businesses had been badly hit by the floods earlier this month.

Appleby Mayor and Mayoress, Hughie and Anne Potts, guided him around the Sands, along with Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart, Cumbria county councillor Martin Stephenson and Eden District Council chairman Mike Tonkin.

He was met by well-wishers including youngsters from Appleby Beavers and spoke to the group about how they have helped in the recovery of the town.

One of the businesses he visited was Bridge End Newsagents where he spoke to owner Richard Maguire and staff. The Prince showed a particular interest in how quickly Mr. Maguire had managed to get the shop up and running again after being so badly hit by the floods.

Further along the Sands the Prince visited Appleby Ford where he spoke to Roy Ashley junior along with his wife Charlotte and their three-year-old daughter Anna.

Mr. Ashley said the Prince was interested to know about how they had been affected and was shocked to hear that not only the garage but also the couple's home on the Sands had been badly flooded.

Crossing over the Sands the Prince listened to 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' played outside Appleby Building Centre by Appleby Town Band.

Mayor Hughie Potts said he told the Prince how his father, Frederick Stanley Potts, had previously been the band master and the Prince had shown a real interest.

Outside the Methodist Church he gratefully took a cup of tea offered to him by Rosie Tinkler of Colby and spoke to various people from the town who had helped in the floods and the town's recovery.

Following the visit Mayor Hughie Potts said he was thrilled with how the visit had gone. "It was a real honour for him to visit Appleby. He was very friendly showed a real interest in the town. There was a fantastic turnout of people and the whole town really got involved in the visit which was nice."