Royal opens rural centre for kids

Princess Anne also visited the college's equine centre and winery

A rural education centre for schoolchildren has been officially opened by the Princess Royal in a visit to an agricultural college.

Princess Anne arrived by helicopter at Plumpton College near Lewes, East Sussex, to visit staff and students.

Children from Lewes Old Grammar School were at the new Children's Rural Education Centre for the royal visit.

The princess, who is president of Riding for the Disabled, also visited the charity's new centre on the site.

She was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Phyllida Stewart-Roberts.

We are very proud to have Her Royal Highness open the new Children's Rural Education Centre for us Des Lambert, college principal

During her visit, Princess Anne toured the college's equine centre and the new winery, which is the country's only undergraduate training and research facility for wine-making.

The Children's Rural Education Centre was built for the Year of Food and Farming, which aims to help students learn where their food comes from.

College principal Des Lambert said: "Plumpton College is very keen to help in this initiative but has always been aware that it needed a bespoke building to house children in.

"Today it has that building and we are very proud to have Her Royal Highness open the new Children's Rural Education Centre for us."

More than 6,000 school pupils visit the college each year to learn about agriculture.