PRINCESS Anne visited Torfaen yesterday to open the county's newest primary school.

The Princess Royal was in Gwent to officially open Cwmbran's Nant Celyn Primary School, which opened to pupils in September.

Her Royal Highness was given a tour of the school by head teacher Amanda Jones, before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the building's official opening.

Children waving Welsh and Union flags greeted Princess Anne as she arrived at the school yesterday afternoon.

She met pupils using the school's state-of-the-art technology equipment during her tour around the building which replaced Brookfield and Hollybush schools.

Features of the 420-place school include a TV and recording studio which helps pupils develop their presentation skills.

The Princess Royal also visited a year six class holding a video conferencing session with an American primary school in Michigan, and took time out to say a few words to the American students.

Her tour finished in the main hall where the school choir performed for her, and seven-year-old Eve Perkins presented her with flowers.

Torfaen council leader Bob Wellington, Torfaen mayor Cllr Tom Huish and MP for the area Paul Murphy were also at the reception.

Torfaen’s chief officer for neighbourhood services Christina Harrhy, who oversaw the school build, spoke to Her Royal Highness about the project.

She said: “She said we should quite rightly be proud of what’s been done.”

Head teacher Amanda Jones said staff and pupils had settled into the new school “extremely well”, and the Princess Royal was impressed with their new building and grounds.

She added: “She said our grounds were very attractive and that it would be interesting to see how they come to life from a blank canvas.”

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