THE Prince of Wales brought a north Cumbrian secondary school to a halt this morning on his first stop on a tour of the county.

Prince Charles spent 75 minutes touring Ullswater Community College in Penrith, in particular its applied learning centre.

The centre runs a range of vocational courses for its pupils including hair and beauty, motor vehicle engineering and construction.

He chatted with staff and students in the training salon before visiting the on-site garage and workshop.

The prince was particularly taken with the restoration work teenagers are carrying out on a 1975 Land Rover, which was bought two years ago for £650.

Members of the school's award-winning cheerleading squad performed on stage before young actors and musicians treated the royal visitor to a scene from their recent production of Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.

All of the school's 1,400 pupils filled the yard to greet the prince, who enjoyed chatting to many of them.

George Biggart, 12, who is in year 8, met the prince.

He said: "Prince Charles asked me about the school. I told him I was doing okay with my school work and that I am preparing for exams.

"He was very interested and friendly."

Prince Charles left the school shortly after 11.30am, later than expected.

A temporary bridge installed over the River Eamont at Pooley Bridge welcomed its first Royal visitor today.

Prince Charles met business owners in the picturesque lakeside village before crossing over the new structure.

The bridge reopened on Sunday after a three and a half month wait.

The original's collapse cut the village in half and prevented access for the majority of residents to the main A592 road along the side of Ullswater.

Members of Penrith Town Band, pupils from Yanwath School and civic dignitaries welcomed the prince to the village.

His first stop was The Sun Inn where he met staff and civic dignitaries.

Resident Jane MacInnes said his visit was a "welcome boost".

Prince Charles later showed off his driving skills as he went off-road in a Land Rover during his visit.

He got behind the wheel to drive through a stream while visiting the Rookin House activity centre at Troutbeck.

He also spent time talking to young farmers who have benefited from funding from his Countryside Fund and watching a demonstration of horse logging, where the animals move felled timber.

Prince Charles was in Keswick this afternoon to help spread the word that the town and surrounding area are open for business.

He arrived soon after 2pm and spent about 30 minutes meeting tourism and public sector representatives and a group from the Lake District Calvert Trust on the shores of Derwentwater.

Arriving with Lord Lieutenant Claire Hensman, he was accompanied by mayor of Allerdale Len Davies and the council’s chief executive Ian Frost.

The prince had a preview of some of the decorated model sheep that will go on display across the Lake District in the Calvert Trust’s Go Herdwick trail, which launches on Friday.

Prince Charles listened with interest as staff, trustees and volunteers explained the trust’s work and how the sheep would be auctioned after September to raise money for its work.

Among the tourism figures the prince met was Linda Furniss, tourism manager for Keswick Tourism Association.

She said: "I also met him after the floods in 2009 which shows that he does support us because on both occasions he’s been here.

"The help he gives us is appreciated. He was asking what Easter is like for tourism and said he hopes his visit will help boost tourism."

Patric Gilchrist, executive director of Theatre by the Lake, said: "He was very sympathetic to the situation we find ourselves in. It’s a very positive visit."

As well as the decorated sheep, Prince Charles saw live Herdwicks, shepherded by former Borrowdale farmer Joe Relph, a long-term friend and his dog Carl.

Joe, 60, said: “It’s always good to meet the prince and always a pleasure. The Calvert Trust and herdwick sheep are both very important to the area. 

“The prince has always been very good at trying to help Cumbria."

Following his public visit the prince moved on to a private meeting about upland flood mitigation organised by the Foundation for Common Land.