A SEA of smiling young faces greeted Princess Anne when she arrived to visit a carers' centre in Blackburn today.

Under clear blue skies, the Queen's daughter, arrived for a visit to Blackburn with Darwen Council's Carers Centre in Oakenhurst Road, off Montague Street.

Around 70 people, many of them children from a nearby nursery, greeted Her Royal Highness and cheered as she stepped from the royal Range Rover wearing a skirt, cream blouse and jacket, black gloves and a gold brooch.

She stayed inside for an hour and a quarter.

During the visit she was meeting carers, support workers as well as council and NHS trustees and representatives.

The centre is a member of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, of which the Princess is president.

She met dignitaries such as Jack Straw, the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Coun Dorothy Walsh and the council's chief executive Graham Burgess.

As she approached the door of the centre, she turned and waved to the crowd who cheered loudly.

The Mayor said the visit was a major coup for the town.

She said: "Princess Anne is one of the patrons of this centre and this is why it's a great event for her to come here today.

"This centre is essential for carers in Blackburn and Darwen and to have someone like Her Royal Highness visit us is fantastic."

Princess Anne was also greeted by a number of Union Jack-waving children from Ashworth Nursery, which is at the back of the centre.

Heather Bulcock, head teacher of the nursery, said the children had been very excited about the royal visit: "All the children knew who she was and that she was the daughter of the Queen.

"They couldn't believe that she was coming to Blackburn and we had to bring them out here to let them see her.

"They are all so excited that they have seen a real princess, but some of them couldn't understand why she wasn't wearing a crown."

Royal fan Lyndsey Livesey, 25, of Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn, said this was the second time she had seen a member of the royal family.

"I met her mum last year and it's great to be able to meet people like her.

"My own mum told me about the visit and I just had to come down here with a bunch of flowers."

The Princess was shown into the centre where she met its backers.

After meeting the Centre's trustees she then met carers of people with mental health issues who receive support from the centre.

Among the carers was Pearl Wild of Wordsworth Gardens, Darwen.

She said: "I know she is stuck for time but I really felt like you could talk to her which was really nice.

"She had quite an understanding in what is involved in mental health issues."

Arshad Khan of Preston New Road, Blackburn, who also is a member of the mental health group said: "She was very pleased that the centre is here to help.

"She was very interested in how we look after our relatives."

Wendy Hobson, one of the centre's trustees, said; "She was lovely, she was very interested in what we do and seemed to know about the work that is involved.

"It was obvious she cares deeply about the work carers do."

Princess Anne left at 11.30am to head for another engagement in Leyland, waved off by crowds who had waited outside the centre.