Prince Charles visited Carlisle's Pirelli tyre factory this morning to mark its 50th anniversary.

During his 50-minute visit the prince chatted to staff and apprentices and was shown some supercars fitted with Pirelli tyres.

The Dalston Road factory focuses on tyres for premium and prestige cars.

It is Pirelli’s main UK production site and employs about 900 people.

Those he spoke to included 20-year-old mechanical apprentice Katy Mossop from Workington.

Katy has been at Pirelli for two years.

She said: "He asked me if I enjoyed it and if I'd gone to college before this. He was friendly. He seemed really interested."

The prince was shown part of the production process and at the end of his visit unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, chief executive officer of Pirelli, said: "This is a special day for Carlisle and a special day for Pirelli."