PRINCE Edward was welcomed by hundreds of students and staff as he arrived by helicopter to visit a school in west Wiltshire this morning.

The Earl of Wessex had been invited for the official unveiling of Warminster School's state-of-the-art £2m science centre.

Prince Edward was taken on a tour around the school where youngsters sang, played music and demonstrated some of the work they have been doing.

Head cadet Alice Charters, 17, of Upton Scudamore, was one of the first to greet the Prince to the school.

She said: "It's really surreal; it's really cool. I think it is great that he came this year because I am in the upper sixth form and wouldn't have been able to meet him if he had come another year. It was a great honour to speak to him."