WARMINSTER was treated to an early Christmas present earlier today as the Duchess of Cambridge visited the town in her role as patron for charity Action on Addiction.

Arriving at the charity’s Centre of Addiction Treatment Studies (CATS) in her first official visit to Wiltshire, the Duchess was welcomed by dozens of residents, royalist Terry Hutt from Weston-super-mare, and school children from Minster School who had lined the road waving Union Jacks just after 11am.

Dressed smartly in a black and white houndstooth Reiss coat, she was welcomed into the centre by local dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Lady Gooch and Warminster Mayor, Sue Fraser.

Opened in 2008 and located at Manor House, on Ash Walk, the centre aims to raise standards in the field of addiction treatment by training addiction counsellors to a higher standard, and staff at the centre had the chance to speak with the Duchess about their work.

Anna Elston, a first class honours graduate, said: “It's amazing meeting the Duchess of Cambridge. She's so friendly and really likes to get involved. It's brilliant that she's here as she's putting Action on Addiction on the map."

Warminster town clerk, Heather Abernethie, said: "She's gorgeous, very beautiful but she's very well informed too. She comes across as very passionate about the charity."

More pictures will be in Friday's Wiltshire Times.