MORE than 250 secondary school students greeted Prince Edward when he spent the day in Newport yesterday.

Prince Edward came to the city in his role as trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, visiting projects across Newport for young people who are working towards their bronze, silver and gold awards.

His Royal Highness spent part of the morning at Rogerstone’s Rivermead Centre where he met teenagers working towards their final gold certificate, before being introduced to young mums at the city centre’s Info Shop who have juggled completing their Duke of Edinburgh challenges with childcare commitments.

The Prince had lunch at Bisley Office Furniture factory, before finishing off the day at Newport velodrome's Duke of Edinburgh challenge event.

Up to 300 pupils aged from 14 to 18 gained points for trying their hand at activities such as rugby, street dancing, tae kwon do, and windsurfing, as well as learning about the volunteering opportunities with the police, scouts and sea cadets which are part of the Duke of Edinburgh award.

The Prince spent 45 minutes chatting to students and helped present an award to pupils from Lliswerry High School for gaining the most points in the day’s challenges.

Ffion Parry, 15, is a pupil at Caerleon Comprehensive who has been volunteering at a St David’s Foundation charity shop as part of her bronze award.

She said: “The Prince was really nice. We were practising CPR on a dummy and he asked us if it was working!”

Earl Broomfield, 16, is currently working on his bronze award through Underwood Youth Club.

He said: “For my bronze award I had to look after a virtual baby for a day and learn first aid so it’s been really fun. I’m looking forward to starting my silver award soon.”

Leader of Newport City Council Matthew Evans said Prince Edward’s visit had been a great opportunity to see first hand the positive impact the Duke of Edinburgh award was having on youngsters in the city.