Prince Edward visited Burnham-on-Sea's hovercraft station to mark the fifth anniversary of the Spirit of Lelaina rescue hovercraft going into service.

His Royal Highness is the first royal visitor to the resort for 14 years.

Princess Alexendra was the last royal family member to visit the town back in 1995 to open the Princess Hall.

The Earl of Wessex came to the resort yesterday to tour the headquarters of BARB, the charity that operates two life-saving rescue hovercrafts.

He was greeted by a group of more than 100 local schoolchildren.

He then met a group of civic dignitaries including Burnham mayor Peter Burridge-Clayton and Sedgemoor District Council's chairman Dennis Davey.

The craft is named after five-year-old Lelaina Hall, who died on the mudflats at nearby Berrow in 2002.