PUPILS at Belthorn Academy Primary School were delighted when they received a visit from a royal champion.

Yvonne Brown, chair of governors at the Hyndburn school, brought in her Kerry Hill grown ram to show the children who was entered as a competitor at the Westmorland Show and gained the title of Reserve Upland Champion.

The award was presented to Yvonne by Prince Charles.

Yvonne said: "I've been showing at Westmorland show for the past 7 years, and have always got into the Interbreed Championship.

"This is the first time I have come away with a rosette from the Championship - and to be awarded with my rosette by HRH Prince Charles was just amazing. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. "

Every year, the children in the nursery, reception and year 1 make an annual visit to Mrs Brown's farm and had seen him as a lamb back in 2014.

They always walk to the farm, as it is in Belthorn, but this time it was the sheep that walked to the school.

Yvonne said: " Although it's quite a rural area, a lot of the children have never got particularly close to any farm animals and they were amazed today at the size of him. I asked them to guess his age, and most thought he was about 50 - not 3.

"I often bring eggs in to school to hatch out. The children love to see the chicks hatch out of the eggs."

The sheep don't normally have a name , but the children had a vote on whether he should be called 'Prince' or 'Charlie'.

"Charlie won - so that is now his name."